CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographles) 


Canadian  institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


IS  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes  /  Notes  technique  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best  original 
copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this  copy  which 
may  be  bibliographically  unique,  which  may  alter  any  of 
the  images  in  the  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  change  the  usual  method  of  filming  are 
checked  below. 


D 
D 

D 

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□ 
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Coloured  covers  / 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged  / 
Couverture  endommagee 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Couverture  restauree  et/ou  pelliculee 

Cover  title  missing  /  Le  litre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps  /  Cartes  geographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)  / 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/cr  illustrations  / 
Planches  et/ou  Illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material  / 
Relie  avec  d'autres  documents 

Only  edition  available  / 
Seule  edition  disponible 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin  /  La  reliure  serree  peut 
causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la  distorsion  le  long  de 
la  marge  interieure. 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restorations  may  appear 
within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  have 
been  omitted  from  filming  /  II  se  peut  que  certaines 
pages  blanches  ajoutees  lors  d'une  restauration 
apparaissent  dans  le  texte,  mais,  lorsque  cela  etait 
possible,  ces  pages  n'ont  pas  ete  filmees. 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  examplaire  qu'il  lui  a 
ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details  de  cet  exem- 
plaire  qui  sont  peut-etre  uniques  du  point  de  vue  bibli- 
ographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier  une  image  reproduite, 
ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une  modifications  dans  la  meth- 
ode  normale  de  filmage  sont  indiques  ci-dessous. 


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Additional  comments  / 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


Pages  25-28  are  Missing. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filme  au  taux  de  reduction  indique  ci-dessous. 


Coloured  pages  /  Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged  /  Pages  endommagees 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated  / 
Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed  / 
Pages  decolorees.  tachetees  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached  /  Pages  detachees 

Showthrough  /  Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies  / 
Qualite  inegale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material  / 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplennentaire 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image  /  Les  pages 
totalement  ou  partiellement  obscurcies  par  un 
feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure,  etc.,  ont  ete  filmees 
a  nouveau  de  fapon  a  obtenir  la  meilleure 
image  possible. 

Opposing  pages  with  varying  colouration  or 
discolourations  are  filmed  twice  to  ensure  the 
best  possible  image  /  Les  pages  s'opposant 
ayant  des  colorations  variables  ou  des  decol- 
orations sont  filmees  deux  fois  afin  d'obtenir  la 
meilleur  image  possible. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26  X 

30X 

y 

1 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28  X 


32  X 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  hat  b««n  raproducad  thanks 
to  Tha  ganaroaity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  filmi  fut  raproduit  graca  A  ia 
gAnAroait*  da: 

Bibliotheque  nationale  du  Canada 


Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  conuact  spacif icationa. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa* 
sion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  arm  filmed  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  imprassion. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  Ati  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nanatA  da  l'axamplaira  filmA,  at  tn 
conformity  avac  laa  conditions  ou  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvariura  an 
papiar  aat  imprimOa  sont  filmas  an  commangant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darniAra  paga  qui  compona  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmOs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniira  paga  qui  comporta  una  taila 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Un  daa  symbolaa  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  — »  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  la 
symbola  V  aignifia  "FIN". 


Mapa,  plataa.  charts,  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  iarga  to  ba 
antiraly  included  in  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  latt  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bonom.  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrama  illuatrata  the 
method: 


Lea  cartaa.  planchaa,  tableaux,  etc..  peuvent  atre 
filmOs  *  daa  taux  da  reduction  dif fOrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  atre 
raproduit  an  un  aaul  clicha.  il  est  films  A  partir 
da  Tangle  supOrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  ^n  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombre 
d'imegea  nOcassaira.  Lea  diagrammas  suivants 
illuatrant  la  mOthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


MCtOCOTY   RESOIUTION   TEST   CMA«T 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPUnn  IN/V1GE    In 

ST-  1653    Eas*    Mam    jlreet 

^^S  Rochestf     Ne*    Yorl.         1 4609       USA 

■■^S  {7t6)    4^^'  -  0300  -  Phone 

^S  ("''6)   288  -  5989  -  Fa- 


OFTH« 


FIRE   MARSHALS'  ASSOCIATION 

OF  NORTH  AMERICA 
TOBOlfTO.  CANADA 


1919 


PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


Fourteenth  Annual  Convention 


OP  THE 


FIRE  MARSHALS'  ASSOCIATION 
OF  NORTH  AMERICA 

KING   EDWARD  HOTEL 
TORONTO,  CANADA 


August  26th,  27th,  28th  and  29th.  1919 


JO»T  a  KIKPEN  PRINTINA  CO..  QUINCY.  ILL. 


Hi 


Otti 


•v/ 


OFFICERS,  1919—1920. 


President, 

JOHN  G.  CAMBER. 

State  Fire  Marshal.  Springfield,  Illinois. 

Vice-President, 
JOHX  S.  HORAN, 
Strte  Fire  Marshal.  Charleston.  West  Virginia 

Secreury-Treasurer, 

GEORGE  H.  N'ETTLETO.V. 
State  Fire  Marshal.  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

e.:ecutive  committee. 
joh\  g.  gamber, 

Springfield,   Illinois 

JOHN    S.    HORAN. 

Charleston.  West   Virginia 

GEORGE  H.  "  "^TTLKTON, 
St.  Paul.  Ml    .esota. 

HOMER  RUTLEDGE, 
Assistant  State  Fire  Marshal,   Lanjing.   Michigan. 

GEORGE  F.  LEWIS. 
Deputy  Fire  Marshal,  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada. 


5'-CC33 


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1 


*»7  • 


1^ 


Fire  Mtrshab'  Assodatioii  of  North  America 

PROGRAM 

TUESDAY,  AUGoST  26th.      P.  M. 

Reception. 
Invocation — 

"National  Anthem" 

"Star  Spangled  Banner" 
Address  of  VVt'come — 

Sir  VVm.  Heart,  K.  C.  M.  1     P..  Promier  of  Ontario 

"The  Maple  Leaf" 

His  Worshio.  Thos.  L.  Church.  K.  C.  Mayor  of  Toronto. 

"Land  of  Hope  and  Glory" 
Response — 

Hon.  \V.  N.  Van  Catnp.  Vice-President,  South  Dakota 

"I'm  a  Little  Prairie  Flower" 
Roll  Call,  .Active  and  Associate  Members. 
President's  .Address — 

Hon.  T.  Alfred  Fleming,  President.  Ohio. 
Musical  Selections — 

Miss  VVinr.ifred  Hiclcs-Lyne.  Soprano. 

Miss  Mabel  Beddoe,  Contralto. 

Miss  Mary  Morley.  Accompanist. 
Informal  Reception. 
Refreshments. 

WEDNESDAY.  AUGUST  27th.  9:30  A.  M. 

Report  of  Secretary-Treasurer — 
John  G.  Gamber,  Illinois. 
Report  of  Standing  Committees- 
Publicity  Committee- 
Paul  Mason,  Ohio,  Chairman. 
Committee  on  Exhibits — 

Joseph   Button,  Insu:  rnce  Commissioner.  Virginia,  Chairman 
Committee  to  Co-operate  with  Nationai  Board- 

L    T.  Hussey   State  Fire  Marshal.  Kansas,  Chairman 
Committee  to  Co-  perate  with  Federal  Government— 

W.  E.  Mallalieu,  General  Manager  National  Board,  New  York 
Chairman.  ' 

Committee  on  Membership — 

P-.J^Morgaridge,  National  Board,  New  York,  Chairman 
Committee  on  State  Building  Code— 

Geo.  H.  Nettleton.  State  Fire  Marshal,  Minnesota,  Chairman 
Committee  on  Standard  Hose  Couplings— 

John  S   Horan,  Fire  Marshal.  West  Virginia,  Chairman 
Appointment  of  Special  Committees. 


Co-Operiting  Accnciet  in  Fire  Prevention. 

"The  .Actu,    Aueniy  in  Kliminntiii«   r-irc  Ua>lr"_ 

\V.  A.  Mc.Mvain.  State  Fire  Marshal.  S...,th  Carolina 

Ducussion— Led  hy— 

H    H.   I'rie.lley.  Stale  Fire  Martial.   Iruliana 
Geo.  H.  Nefll.-on.  S-aie  Fire  Ma-shal,  Mi.MU.n.a. 

"GootI  Citizenship" — 

J.  S.  Dar.st.  in.iiranve  C..ninii,si.,ner,  West  \irKinia 
Di<icuisiiin — Uei\  hy 

U  m.  M.  Camphell.  State  Fire  Marshal.  Louisiana. 
•■ThH  P     .v,     ,'^f^'*'^'-   ^^"i^'ant   S.ate   F,re   Marsl,al.   Wisconsin 
The  Lest  Me,,,,,.,,  an,    Results  for  Fire  an.l  .Xceident  Prevention  F.ay"- 

Di.eu.sio:-U,M:-    '"'    "^^^"''■■"   ^— ---•   MassachusetL 
Oeo.   !•-.  I.cw.s.  De-mty  Fire  Marshal.  Ontario 

'•The   l-n?i'         ■.^''  ^',"^7-  ^'"'  f^"-""'*'i""".  Saskatchewan. 
Ihe   Lnderwr.ters    Laboratories  an,|   Fire    1-revention"- 

DiscnSM;!ii-Lenll-'^^"''"^'''^"'  ^■■•""-"•"^'  Laboratories.  Ch,ca«o. 

Hunter  Rutled^e,  .Assistant  State  Fire  Marshal,  Michi»,an. 
J.  A.  Tracy.  State  Fire  Marshal.  !„wa. 

12:30  NOON— LUNCHEON 

Tendered  l,y  ,he  Corporation  „f  „,,  City  of  Toro„,„  ,„  „,.  Delegates 
.n  the  I'otnpe.an  Roo.n.  Kin«  Edward  Hotel  '^^'e^ates 

Mayor   f.  L.  Church,  presiding 

Speaker-lion.  T.  Alfred  FIen,in«.  lYeside.u  Fire  Marshals'  As.  .ia.ion 
of  .North  .America.  ^  lauon 

WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  27th.  2.00  P.  M. 

"The  Ultimate  Solution  of  Fire  Prevention  is  the  Child"- 

Discussion-Led  h"y-  '"'•  '"''-''"'""  ''"'^  ""^'^  ^'-^h^''  •^"-"  ^akot,. 

p'\v".-'T'"'"""'  ^"'''  ^"^  ^*^"hal,  Minnesota. 
"V        p    ,.,        '^"''^'*'=*'  Assistant  State  Fire  Marshal,  Wisconsin 
•New  Fields      .  Development  of  Fire  Prevention"- 
Joh:    G.  Camber.  State  Fire  Marshal,  Illinois 
Discussion — Led  by 

John  r  ""•  V'  V''  P:— '""  Commissioner,  Tennessee. 
John  Connolly.  State  Fire  Marshal,  Oklahoma 
Rural  Hazards.     How  Shall  They  Be  Eliminated -"- 

H.  L.  Reade,  State  Fire  Marshal,  \orth  Dakota 
Discussion— Led  by—  ■•".uid. 

H.  H.  Friedley,  State  Fire  Marshal.  Indiana 
J.  A.  Tracy,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Iowa 
Educational  Re.sults  of  Conservation  Association  Work"- 
Discussiined' ./yr""'  '"""^^  Conservation  Association,  Illinois. 

S''''r^r'^''!""'c   ''''""''  "^"'  Protection",  Cincinnati. 
John  G.  Gamber,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Illinois. 

4 


i 


i 


si^ 


<:00  P.  M. 

":r,V,',;;.";;;;*':' ' '  '■-»"  ---•":■;:."<■'-- 

W.  C.  C.ul.or.  Chairman.  T„r„„,.,  „ra,ul,.  C.  V    A.,  presiding. 


POSTPRANDIAL 


M.  A. 


"Safr^uardinK  the  Hc.e  azainst  iMn"- 

\y.   K,  MallalK-u.   .V.aional   !!„ar.l.   Xcw   York 

V"K'rr'  '"  ""■   ^"""^  "'  '•■i^'   frev-ntion"- 
..c      •       i   ^-  •""■■'^ '""""•'•"  ^■''•■c-i'rtsi.lene,  C    M     \ 
Saving  Our  I-acluries  fr,,„,  IX..striu-ti,.n"- 

J.  H.  Laidlaw,  President  C.  F.  "       .  ,  Toron'o 
Insurance  and  Fire  1'rev.ntion"- 

...        .  ."•  \^'  '''''"'■>'■  Chairman.  Insi  Committee   C 

Actuates  of  ,he  Ontario  Fire  I'revent, on  LeaKue'- 
Arthur  Hcwif.  President.  ( ).  F.  P.  L. 

n  w  9:00  P.M. 

Dancing — Motors  at  10:30. 

THURSDAY.  AUGUST  28th-9:30  A   M 

"The  Pro,>er^a^  Most  Effective  Procedure  in  Investig.ti 'n  of  Suspicious 

.Icdin  Kenlon.  Chief  of  Fire  Department.  \ew  York  Citv 
General  Discussion  for  fifteen  minutes-Led  by-  *' 

Homer  Rutled-e,  Assistant  State  Fire  Varshal    \i;..i,- 

Discussio'-n-Le""";^  ''"^  '"'  '''''''''  ^^"-^■ 

"Fire  Prevention     .,  a  Life  Saver"— 

D.scussion-LeJby-""^"  '"^""""  Commissioner.  North  Carolina. 

John  S.  Horan,  Fire  Marshal.  West  Virginia 
"Insuran'c^r  ."ietr^s'eX-r""  °'  '^ "'  ^— • 

Sicfgo.'^'"'"''"'    '^'""*'    ^^'="'    Philadelphia    Underwriter,. 
"Individual  Liability  Against  Fire"- 

"How  r'  ^'^""'J"'''^-  Dominion  Fire  Commissioner.  Ottawa 
How  Can  «he  Nat.onal  Board  Ass.st  the  State  Fire  Mai sh2V'_ 

VV.  E.Mulla.eu,  General  Manager  National   Board  of  Fire  Un 
derwriters.  New  York.  " 

Discussion — Led  by 

John  G.  Gamber.  State  Fire  Marshal.  Illinois. 
L.  T.  Hussey,  State  Fire  Marshal.  Kansas. 


1^:30  NOON— LUNCHEON 

Tendered  by  the  Province  of  Ontario  to  the  Delegates  in  the  Pompeian 
Room,  King  Edward  Hotel. 

Hon.  I.  B.  Lucas,  K.  C,  M.  P.  P.,  Attorney  General,  presiding. 

National  Anthem. 

Star  Spangled  Banner. 

"Staff  Work  in  the  War"— 

Brig.-General  C.  H.  Mitchell,  C.  B.,  C.  M.  G.,  D.  S.  O..  Dean  of 
the  Faculty  of  Applied  Science  and  Engineering,  University  of 
Toronto. 

"The  Efficacy  of  Education  and  Legislation  in  the  Work  of  Fire  Preven- 
tion as  Viewed  from  the  Four  Points  of  the  Compass" — 
J.  Grove  Smith,  Dominion  Fire  Commissioner. 
Hon.  James  R.  Young,  Insurance  Commissioner  and  Fire  Mar- 
shal, North  Carolina. 

Franklin  H.  Wentworth,  Sec'y-Treas.,  N.  F.  P.  A.,  Boston,  Mass. 
Hon.  L.  T.  Hussey,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Kansas. 

THURSDAY,  AUGUST  28th— 2:00  P.  M. 

"Proper  Inspection  of  a  Flour  Mil'    ind  Grain  Elevator" — 

James  J.  Fitzgerald,  Asst.  Secy.  Grain  Dealers  National  Mutual 
Insurance  Company,  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

General  Discussion  ten  minutes. 

"The  Fire  Hazard  of  Nitro-Cellulose  Moving  Picture  Films  and  Ivoroid 
Products;  What  Should  be  Our  Attitude  Toward  Them?"— 
Geo.  W.  Booth,  Chief  Engineer  National  Board  of  Fire  Under- 
writers, New  York. 

General  Discussion  ten  minutes. 

"The  Hazards  of  Large  Industrial  Plants" — 

W.  J.  Pollard,  Chief  of  Fire  Prevention,  International  Harvester 
Company,  Chicago. 

Discussion — Led  by — 

E.  D.  Beach,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Nebraska. 
R.  S.  Mentrum,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Montana. 

"Pep  in  Perpetual  Progress" — 

Walter  B.  Bell,  Fire  Prevention  Commissioner,  Tennessee. 

Discussion — Led  by — 

Howard  E.  Butz,  State  Fire  Marshal.  Pennsylvania. 
Geo.  F.  Lewis,  Deputy  Fire  Marshal,  Ontario. 


»  OC  P.  M. 

Automobiles  leave  King  Edward  Hotel  for  the  Canadian  National  Exhi- 
bition Grounds  (via  Queen's  Park,  Parliament  Building,  Univer- 
sity of  Toronto,  .Avenue  Road,  St.  Clair  ,\ve..  and  High  Park)  as 
Guests  of  the  Officers  and  l~>irectors  of  the  Exhibition  .Associa- 
tion. 

High  Tea  will  be  served  in  the  W.  C.  T.  U.  Dining  Hall,  ExhiI)ition 
Grounds,  at  6:30  p.  in.,  folliiwcd  hy  ;(n  Kntertaipment  and  Grand 
Victory  Spectacle  in  front  of  the  Grand  Stand  at  eight  o'clock. 

6 


rf 


FRIDAY,  AUGUST  29th— 9:00  A.  M. 

Round  Table  Discussions. 

All  speeches  confined  to  five  minutes;  no  one  to  speak  twice  on 

the  same  subject  without  the  consent  of  the  convention. 
Open  Forum  for  all  Fire  Marshals'  Problems. 

Questions  to  be  placed  in  the  Question  Box  on  or  before  the  end 

of  the  session  on  Thursday  afternoon. 
Reports  of  Special  Committees. 
Unfinished  Business. 
New  Business. 
Election  of  Officers. 
Adjournment. 

12:30  NOON— LUNCHEON 

Tendered  by  the  Rotary  Club  to  the  Delegates  in  the  Pompeian  Room, 
King  Edward  Hotel,  H.  G.  Stanton,  presiding. 

National  Anthem. 

Star  Spangled  Banner. 

"Patriotism  and  Fire  Waste" — 

Hon.  Dr.  H-  J.  Cody,  M.  P.  P.,  Minister  of  Education. 

"Boys  of  the  Old  Brigade". 

"Work  of  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association" — 

Hon.  T.  Alfred  Fleming,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Ohio. 

"Mother  Machree" 

"What  the  Fire  Marshals  are  Doing  for  the  Government" — 
Hon.  John  G.  Gamber,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Illinois. 

"Welcome  the  Coming,  Speed  the  Parting  Guest" — 
H.  G.  Stanton,  President,   Rotary  Club. 

Response — 

Col.  Joseph  Button,  State  Fire  Marshal,  Virginia. 

"Smile" 

"Auld  Lang  Syne" 

GENERAL  COMMITTEE 

George  F.  Lewis,  Deputy  Fire  Marshal  of  Ontario,  Chairman. 

W.  C.  Coulter.  Chairman,  Toronto  Branch,  Canadian  Manufacturers'  As- 
sociation. 

H.  W.  Fleury,  Chairman,  Insurance  Committee,  Canadian  Manufacturers' 
Association. 

John  J.  Gibbons,  President,  Ontario  Motor  League. 

Arthur  Hewitt.  President.  Ontario  Fire  Prevention  League. 

John  G.  Kent,  General  Manager,  Canadian  National  Exhibition  Associa- 
tion. 

John   B.   Laidlaw,   President,   Canadian    Fire   Underwriters'  Association. 

C.  Alfred  Maguire,  Controller.  City  of  Toronto. 

H.  G.  Stanton.  President.  Rotary  Club. 

LADIES'  RECEPTION  COMMITTEE 

Mrs.  A.  M.  Huestis,  Convener. 


X 


CONVENTION  PROCEEDINGS 


OPENING  OF  THE  CONVENTION 
Tuesday,  August  26,  1919,  8  p.  m. 

President  Fleming:  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  it  is  now  my 
privilege  to  call  to  order  the  Fourteenth  Annual  Convention  of 
the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America.  I  am  sure 
you  will  all  agree  that  it  is  a  pleasure  for  us  to  meet  on  Ca- 
nadian soil  and  in  this  beautiful  city  of  Toronto.  Personally,  I 
cannot  think  or  speak  of  this  glorious  country  without  arousing 
feelings  of  deep  emotion,  for  it  was  my  lot  in  years  gone  by  to 
spend  many  happy  days  around  college  and  campus  grounds 
sheltered  from  sun  and  shower  by  the  friendly  foliage  of  the  fa- 
mous Maple  Leaf. 

Now,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  I  am  tempted  to  become  rem- 
iniscent, but  a  glance  at  the  program  reveals  that  we  are  to  en- 
joy many  interesting  items  this  evening,  and  so  I  will  not  de- 
tain you  further  save  to  remark  that  it  affords  me  very  great 
happiness  to  see  so  many  of  you  here  tonight  and  to  have  this 
opportunity  of  expressing  my  earnest  hope  that  you  will  enjoy 
a  splendid  evening  together. 

1  think  it  is  but  fitting  that  we  should  begin  what  I  predict 
will  prove  to  be  a  decidedly  profitable  convention  by  rendering 
our  heartfelt  homage  to  the  Great  Creator  of  the  Universe,  and 
so  I  have  great  pleasure  in  calling  upon  the  Rev.  Dr.  F.  E. 
Powell,  pastor  of  St.  Boniface  church  of  this  city,  to  lead  us  in 
prayer. 

INVOCATION 

The  Rev.  F.  E.  Powell:  Almighty  God  and  Heavenly  Fath- 
er, we  approach  Thee  in  spirit  tonight  with  feelings  of  gratitude 
for  Thy  loving  kindness  bestowed  upon  us  from  day  to  day,  and 
especially  would  we  render  thanks  to  Thee  for  Thy  goodness  in 
enabling  so  many  whose  earthly  vocations  bind  them  together 
with  bonds  of  loyalty  and  good  fellowship  to  assemble  here. 
May  that  spirit  of  comradeship  ever  prevail,  O  God,  and  may 
their  deliberations  be  blessed  and  result  in  the  advancement  of 
Thy  kingdom  and  lasting  benefit  to  all  mankind.  Guide  them 
in  their  councils,  impart  wisdom  to  their  decisions,  and  help 
them  in  all  their  ways  to  acknowledge  Thee,  and  to  remember 

8 


^ 


that  in  their  magnificent  work  of  fire  prevention  and  extermi- 
nation they  are  but  Thy  instruments,  and  that  from  Thee  and 
Thee  alone  can  perfect  protection  and  preservation  oe  procured. 
Amen. 

Following  the  invocation  the  convention  arose  and  sang: 
"God  Save  the  King"  and  the  "Star  Spangled  Banner." 

President  Fleming:  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  in  the  last  year 
I  have  become  more  or  less  familiar  with  the  splendid  movements 
along  the  line  of  fire  prevention  that  have  been  inaugurated  in 
the  province  of  Ontario,  and  also  to  some  extent  with  the  exten- 
sion of  that  work  to  the  surrounding  provinces  in  the  Dominion 
of  Canada,  and  I  am  able  to  say  that  very  much  of  the  credit  for 
this  activity  is  due  to  the  splendid  interest  evinced  and  support 
afforded  by  the  representative  gentlemen  of  the  province  of 
Ontario. 

Of  these  gentlemen,  perhaps,  there  is  no  one  who  has  dis- 
played a  keener  interest  in  and  extended  more  encouragement 
and  assistance  to  this  particular  work  than  the  Hon.  Sir  William 
Hearst,  the  Premier  of  Ontario.  Unfortunately,  the  pressing 
calls  of  duty  prevent  our  good  friend  and  most  loyal  supporter 
from  addressing  us  tonight,  a  fact  which,  I  am  quite  sure,  will 
cause  every  one  of  us  profound  regret,  but  I  am  very  happy 
in  being  able  to  announce  that  another  gentleman,  of  the  offi- 
cial circle  of  this  province— one  who  by  reason  of  his  position, 
and  also  his  unusual  tact  and  diplomacy,  has  given  to  the  work 
of  fire  prevention  a  greater  impetus  and  strength  than  anyone 
else— will  represent  Sir  William  here  and  address  you  in  his 
stead. 

I  have  ver>'  great  pleasure  in  introducing  the  Hon.  I.  B. 
Lucas,  Attorney  General  of  Ontario. 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 
Hon.  I.  B.  Lucas:  President  Fleming,  ladies  and  gentlemen: 
It  is  a  matter  of  deep  regret  to  me  (and  I  am  sure  of  deeper 
regret  to  you)  that  our  Premier,  Sir  William  Hearst,  is  unable 
to  address  you  this  evening.  Until  quite  late  this  afternoon  he 
expected  to  attend  here,  and  it  was  only  a  few  hours  ago  that 
he  intimated  to  me  in  a  telephone  message  that  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  him  to  come,  and  requested  mo  to  represent  him 
and  extend  to  your  President  and  the  members  of  this  .Associa- 
tion and  their  friends  attending  this  convention  a  very  hearty 
welcome  to  this  city  and  province. 

9 


During  the  recent  war  you  were.  I  have  no  doubt,  compelled 
on  many  occasions  to  tolerate  substitutes,  and  so,  while  it  is  in 
that  capacity  that  I  appear  before  you  this  evening,  I  will  do  my 
best  to  take  the  Premier's  place. 

Sir  William  specially  requested  me,  in  his  telephone  mes- 
sage, to  express  his  own  very  keen  regret  at  his  inability  to  come 
here  this  evening,  and  to  assure  you  of  his  continued  interest  in 
the  work  in  which  you  are  engaged— and  may  I  say  that  he 
has  taken  a  very  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Fire  Mar- 
shal's department  that  has  been  established  in  this  province. 

Your  President  has  been  kind  enough  to  say  some  very 
nice  things  about  me  as  a  substitute,  but  I  am  exceedingly  de- 
lighted to  be  on  this  platform  with  Mr.  Fleming  as  presiding 
officer  at  this  convention  for  one  very  good  reason,  and  that  is 
the  fact  that  he  is  by  birth  a  Canadian  who  has  crossed  the 
border  and  made  very  good  indeed  in  his  particular  line  of  en- 
deavor in  the  land  of  his  adoption,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  all 
agree  that  he  has  earned  and  merited  the  high  honor  which  his 
position  as  President  of  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North 
America  confers  upon  him. 

There  is  another  reason  why  I  am  so  delighted  to  be  asso- 
ciated with  your  President  on  this  occasion,  and  it  is  because 
we  both  came  from  Grey  county  away  up  in  the  Georgian  Bay 
district,  but  in  saying  that  I  fear  I  have  given  you  reason  to 
suspect  that  the  exchange  of  eulogisms  to  which  you  have  lis- 
tened so  patiently  are  merely  a  part  of  the  proceedings  of  a  mu- 
tual admiration  society  consisting  of  two  ex-Grey  county  boys. 

An  examination  of  your  program  reveals  that  Mr.  Heaton 
and  Mr.  Lewis  have  prepared  a  very  busy  time  for  you,  and  while 
one  may  be  able  to  say,  as  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  said 
to  the  Governor  of  South  Carolina  on  a  certain  historic  occasion: 
"It's  a  long  time  between  drinks,"  I  am  afraid  you  will  find  it 
is  not  a  very  long  time  between  "committees,"  and  so  in  that 
regard  you  will  have  to  be  careful. 

Seriously,  however.  I  am  indeed  delighted  to  have  the  op- 
portunity this  convention  affords  of  meeting  so  many  of  your 
countrymen  upon  an  occasion  of  this  kind.  The  Fire  Marshals' 
work  is  very  much  more  advanced,  generally  speaking,  on  your 
side  of  the  line  than  it  is  here.  You  are  the  leaders,  and  we  are 
endeavoring  (and,  I  think,  succeeding  to  some  extent)  to  learn 
the  lessons  you  are  teaching,  and  so,  while  every  Canadian  here, 
as  well  as  the  officers  of  the  Fire  Marshal's  department,  is  de- 

10 


lighted  to  have  the  privilege  of  meeting  you  and  entertaining 
you  while  you  are  here,  it  is  expected  that  some  very  valuable 
information  in  connection  with  the  work  of  firo  prevention  wi.I 
be  extracted  from  you. 

The  great  war  is  ended,  happily  and  victcriously— and  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  it  was  forced  upon  the  allied  countries— 
properly  ended.  For  not  only  did  we  not  want  to  go  to  war, 
but  we  exerted  every  effort  to  avoid  it.  In  this  connection  I 
might  remark  upon  the  fact  that  the  American  press  comments 
are  exceedingly  favorable  and  complimentary  to  the  new  tem- 
f*  porary  English  .-Vmbassa-    -  to  the  United  States,  Viscount  Grey, 

and  I  think  it  is  fitting  to  recall  the  great  efforts  he  made  to 
prevent  the  world  conflagration  at  the  outset. 

It  is  no  longer  necessary  to  discu.ss  the  war,  but  we  are  still 
discussing  its  problems  and  engaging  in  a  kind  of  stock-taking, 
a  counting  of  the  cost,  the  incalculable  cost  in  blood  and  treasure 
to  a!l  the  countries  involved,  and  the  counter-balancing  advan- 
tages.   What  have  we  got  from  it  ? 

Mr.  Page,  the  American  Ambassador  to  Great  Britain,  re- 
cently (in  referring  to  the  great  weighing  on  the  one  side  of 
the  cost  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  advantages)  expressed  him- 
self thus :  "The  great  by-product  of  the  war  is  the  closer  com- 
ing together  of  the  great  English-speaking  parts  of  the  world." 
I  believe  he  emphasized  that  thought  in  a  very  able  address. 
Surely  it  is  a  fact  the  importance  of  which  no  man  can  overes- 
timate. Perhaps  some  of  you  will  remember  that  just  as  the 
arrangements  for  celebrating  one  hundred  years  of  peace  be- 
tween the  British  Empire  and  the  United  States  were  about 
completed  this  country  was  compelled  to  declare  war  upon  Ger- 
many. I  can  remember  visiting  Mr.  Joseph  Choate,  and  other 
eminent  Americans  v.ho  were  to  have  taken  part  in  that  celebra- 
tion, but  who,  when  war  was  decln-  ■!,  came  over  and  expressed 
^'k  their  regrets.     For  one  hundred  '  or  more  we  have  main- 

tained peace  with  your  country  ._  n  a  principle.  We  have 
maintained  that  peace  not  because  of  the  ties  of  kinship  (and 
there  is  something  in  that)  between  the  two  great  peoples  of 
the  United  States  and  the  British  Empire,  and  not  because  there 
were  no  disputes  (for  we  have  to  dispute  almost  always  with 
your  country),  but  because  of  the  application  of  the  prin<iples 
of  international  law  and  of  arbitration  to  the  settlement  of  our 
differences.  The  outstanding  characteristic  of  the  United  States 
and  the  British  Empire  is  the  pinning  of  their  faith  for  the  set- 
tlement of  public  disputes  now  and  for  one  hundred  years  past  to 

11 


A 


these  great  principles  rather  than  upon  the  fallacies  of  strength 
and  military  display. 

I  just  want  to  say  one  word  about  the  war.  although  it  is 
over.  I  believe  that  the  association,  our  sacred  association  upon 
the  fields  of  battle  and  in  the  trench  lines  at  home  where  we  la- 
bored to  support  our  armies,  of  these  two  great  English-speaking 
peoples  will  bind  them  together  with  bonds  unbreakable  for  gen- 
erations, if  not  forever. 

Would  it  be  wandering  away  from  words  of  welcome  to  re- 
call a  verse  that  must  be  familiar  to  many  present  here  tonight, 
if  not  to  all  our  .American  friends?  It  is  a  verse  of  Tennyson's 
famous  poem,  "rlaiids  All  Round."  written  away  back  in  18.V^. 
nearly  seventy  years  ago,  in  which  he  foresaw  all  the  possibil- 
ities of  a  great  world  conflagration,  and  in  which  he  then  e.\- 
pressed  (and  bear  in  mind  that  he  was  then,  as  he  was  until  his 
death,  the  official  Poet  Laureate  of  the  British  Empire)  his  fer- 
vent hope  that,  if  any  such  outbreak  should  take  place  as  did 
take  place,  there  would  be  a  union  of  the  two  great  English- 
speaking  races  of  the  world.  It  is  in  the  form  of  a  toast  to  the 
United  States  nearly  seventy  years  ago: 

"Gigantic  daughter  of  the  West, 

We  drink  to  thee  across  the  flood. 
We  know  thee  and  we  love  thee  best. 

For  art  thou  not  of  British  blood? 
Should  war's  mad  blast  again  be  blown, 

Permit  not  thou  the  tyrant  powers 
To  fight  thy  mother  here  alone. 

But  let  thy  broadsides  roar  with  ours. 
Hands  all  round! 

God  uie  tyrant's  cause  confound ! 
To  our  dear  kinsmen  of  the  \Vest,  my  friends, 

.And  the  great  name  of  England,  round  and  round." 

Mr.  President,  your  broadsides  indeed  did  roar  with  ours, 
and  the  tyrant's  cause  has  been  unquestionably  confounded ! 

Ladies  and  gentlemen,  to  you,  our  cousins  of  the  south,  we 
give,  in  the  spirit  of  that  verse,  the  toast  of  Tennyson's  "Hands 
All  Round."     I  thank  you. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  preceding  address  the  audience 
rose  and  sang  "The  Maple  Leaf." 

President  Fleming:  I  anticipated  that  we  were  going  to  en- 
joy an  exceptional  treat  when  it  was  announced  that  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Lucas  would  address  us.     I  visited  Ontario  last  fall  on  the 

12 


^ 


'^4 


occasion  of  the  ors-ani/.ation  of  the  prcat  I'ire  Provcntion  Lea^'Uc 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Lucas  (for  the  Fire  Mar- 
shal's acJvities  in  the  province  of  Ontario  are  directly  under 
tile  cliarfre  of  the  Attorney  C.eneral)  and  was  delighted  with 
the  meeting  which  was  heUl  here  at  that  time.  The  work  has 
gone  out  from  these  l)orders  until  it  has  revolutionized  m  i  only 
this  province,  but  many  other  provinces  in  the  Dominion  of 
Canada  and  sume  of  the  states  oi  our  Union. 

•Amont,'  the  many  lessons  which  the  recent  war  has  tauj,dit 
is  the  draping  of  the  folds  of  the  allied  flags  together.  We  have 
learned  to  remember  the  great  family  ties  that  bind  the  English- 
speaking  races,  and  to  ever  hear  in  mind  the  symbols  which 
the  three  colors  in  the  allied  flags  represent— the  red  for  Courage, 
the  white  for  I'urity  and  the  blue  for  Truth— the  three  great 
cardinal  virtues.  On  that  principle  we  have  drap-d  them  all 
together  and  tonight  as  we  meet  in  this  city  of  Toronto  we  are 
reminded  that  since  the  eleventh  day  of  Xovember,  l!tl,s,  we 
have  been  united  in  one  continual  thanksgiving,  and  the  bonds 
of  fellowship  have  been  strengthened  to  endure  and  to  uplift  all 
tlie  nations  of  the  earth. 

I  am  very  sorry  indeed  to  have  to  announce  that  His  Wor- 
ship, Thomas  '..  Church,  the  Mayor  of  Toronto,  is  unable  to 
address  you  tonight,  h  was  his  wish  to  come  here,  and  he  en- 
deavored in  every  possible  way  to  arrange  his  affairs  so  that 
he  might  do  so,  but  his  time  and  attention  has  been  called  to 
specially  important  duties. 

In  his  place,  however.  Con  )ller  W.  P..  Robins  of  this  city 
has  been  kind  enough  to  atteiu  and  it  affords  me  very  great 
pleasure  to  introduce  Controller  Robins,  who  will  address  you. 

Controller  V/.  B.  Robins:  Mr.  President,  ladies  and  gentle- 
men: I,  too,  like  the  .\ttorney  General,  am  a  substitute,  owing 
to  the  fact  that  Mayor  Church  is  occui)ied  with  the  duty  of  en- 
tertaining His  Royal  Highness,  the  Prince  of  Wales,  during  his 
stay  here.  However.  I  am  very  happy  to  be  able  to  bid  you 
welcome  to  the  city  of  Toronto,  and  especially  those  of  you  who 
have  come  from  the  other  side  of  the  line.  After  nil.  that  is 
only  an  imaginary  line,  and  just  as  these  flags  are  draped  to- 
gether on  your  programs,  so  we  feel  we  are  united  into  one 
great  people.  We  feel  that  your  problems  are  very  much  the 
same  as  our  problems,  and  what  is  of  vita!  interest  to  you  is  also 
of  vital  interest  to  us. 

During  your  stay  in  this  city  you  may  be  able  to  discover 

13 


hat  .t  .s  very  well  constructed  for  fire  prevention.  I'or  the  last 
twenty  or  thirty  years  we  have  not  allowed  a  single  frame  build- 
ing to  be  erected  within  our  city  limits.  Most  of  our  buildines 
are  constructed  of  brick,  and  it  does  seem  to  me  that  our  fire 
losses  shou  d  not  be  as  heavy  as  they  are  in  many  of  the  other 
American  cities. 

Toronto  too.  is  a  very  patriotic  city.  It  sent  60.000  men  to 
the  ont,  although  its  population  is  less  than  half  a  million 
Then  we  are  proud  of  the  fact  that  our  municipal  coun,  il  con- 
tributed to  the  cause  of  the  allies  during  the  war  over  twelve 
million  dollars,  and  in  addition  to  that  our  citizens  subscribed 
another  twelve  million  dollars.  mak=ng  the  total  subscription  of 
the  city  of  Toronto  to  the  cause  of  tl  -  allies  approximately  twen- 
ty-five million  dollars.  That,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  is  a  rec- 
ord that  has  not  been  beaten  by  any  city  of  a  similar  size  in 
the  world ! 

Now.  I  see  you  have  a  long  program  and  so  I  will  not  take  up 
your  time  further  than  to  again  bid  you  a  very  heartv  welcome 
to  the  city  of  Toronto,  and  to  assure  you  that  we  are  anxious  to 
make  yo.-.r  stay  here  as  pleasant  and  profitable  as  possible. 

RESPONSE. 

President  Fleming:  I  will  now  call  upon  the  Hon  W  N 
Van  Camp,  the  Vice-President  of  the  Association,  to  respond. 

Mr.  Van  Camp:  Mr.  President,  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  To- 
ronto:  I  cannot  say  I  am  a  substitute,  but  after  listening  to  the 
magnificent  addresses  that  have  been  delivered  by  Attorney 
General  Lucas,  representing  the  Governor  of  the  province  of  On- 
tario,  and  Controller  Robins,  who  represents  the  Mayor  of  your 
beautiful  city.  I  certainly  wish  I  had  a  substitute.  I  assure  you 
1  esteem  it  a  very  great  privilege  to  have  an  opportunity  of  re- 
sponding to  such  delightful  words  of  welcome  as  those  we  have 
just  listened  to. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  referring  to  a  meeting  of  the  Asso- 
ciation held  in  the  city  of  New  Orleans  a  few  years  ago  At  that 
time  the  World  War  was  raging  and  our  hearts  were  full 
Your  Mr.  Heaton  was  there  and  sometime  during  that  meeting 
he  took  the  floor  and  delivered  one  of  the  most  touching  and 
inspiring  addresses  to  which  it  had  been  the  privilege  of  any 
member  there  to  hear.  He  told  us  something  about  the  war  and 
Its  effect  to  the  north  of  our  northern  boundary  and  caused  us 
to  return  to  our  homes  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  only  thing 
to  do  was  to  get  ready  and  get  right  in  and  help  save  civiliza- 

14 


•A= 


tion.  I  want  to  say  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  great  World 
U  ar  that  had  a  more  far-reaching  influence  upon  future  gen- 
erations than  the  fact  that  free  Canada  and  free  United  States 
stepped  in  when  they  were  most  needed  and  turned  the  tide  of 
battle  at  the  moment  when  it  threatened  to  swamp  humanity 
and  leave  the  world  in  the  control  of  barbarians.  This  war  co«t 
the  United  States  in  men  alone  nearly  .JOO.OOO  casualties  and  it 
cost  the  world  nearly  .iO.OOO.OOO  casualties.  It  cost  the  British 
Empire  alone.  I  am  informed.  3.0()(),ono  casualties. 

We  seldom  think  of  the  unselfish  motives  that  actuated 
both  Canada  and  the  United  States  when  thev  entered  the 
World  War.  Our  people  were  not  actuated  by  a' desire  of  con- 
quest or  revenge,  or  the  ordinary  selfish  n  tives  which  usually 
impel  nations,  to  g^  to  war.  We  fought  to  maintain  free  insti- 
tutions on  eaich:  to  make  the  world  safe  for  democracy;  to 
preserve  the  freedom  of  the  seas  and  the  right  of  American  ves- 
sels to  sail  unimpeded  over  all  ocean  highways;  to  maintain 
nation.'d  honor  and  self  respect  and  the  good  will  of  other  na- 
tions and  our  position  as  a  free  and  independent  people. 

We  do  not  expect  any  indemnity  for  the  more  than  thirty- 
five  billions  that  the  war  has  cost  the  United  States  alone.  We 
do  not  expect  anything,  and  money  could  not  compensate  .or 
the  286,800  casualties  in  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  We 
Americans  do  not  expect  or  want  one  foot  of  German  territory, 
nor  one  dollar  of  German  money.  Our  blood  and  our  treasures' 
were  given  to  humanity  and  our  only  reward  is  the  knowledge 
that  we  did  our  duty :  that  we.  from  the  western  hemisphere, 
were  apostles  of  liberty  and  civilization,  and  the  world  at  large, 
as  well  as  America,  will  receive  incalculable  benefits  from  our 
efforts. 

Now  as  we  slowly  emerge  from  under  the  shadow  of  this 
horrible  carnage  the  world  is  filled  with  the  widow's  wail  and 
the  orphan's  cry.  but  amid  this  wail  and  cry,  and  while  the  earth 
is  yet  draped  in  black,  a  light  is  breaking  forth  after  the  dark- 
est hour  in  the  world's  history. 

The  heroism  of  Belgium,  the  glory  of  France,  the  j^allantry 
of  England,  and  the  bravery  of  the  Soys  from  Canada  and  the 
United  States  will  n.-ver  be  fully  told  oy  the  historians  who  at- 
tempt to  record  the  deeds  that  were  performed. 

When  we  left  our  homes  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States  we  were  determined  to  enjoy  ever)-  moment  of  our  trip, 
and  I  am  sure  that  the  officials  of  this  beautiful  city  have  done 
everything  in  their  power  to  enable  us  to  fulfill  our  determina- 

15 


tion.  It  has  been  a  most  enjoyable  trip,  but  the  only  way  in 
which  you  could  fully  appreciate  it  would  he  by  having  accom- 
panied us.  Mf)st  of  us  met  in  the  beautiful  city  of  Cleveland 
and  journeyed  from  there  on  a  splendidly  equipped  vessel  over 
that  magnificer;  body  of  water  known  as  Lake  Erie,  which  his- 
tory  has  made  famous,  and  through  the  great  city  of  Buffalo 
to  nature's  loveliest  exhibit,  the  wonderful  Xiagara  Falls,  and 
then  across  the  great  inland  sea  of  Lake  Ontario  to  Canada's 
most  'lospitable  metropolis.  Toronto. 

Our  hearts  are  filled  with  th'j  glad  welcome  extended  to 
us,  because  we  realize  as  we  hav.-  never  realized  before  that 
we  are  all  Americans,  that  we  are  brother  Americans.  We  look 
back  over  a  few  months  and  see  how  less  than  a  year  ago  the 
soldiers  of  Canada  and  the  soldiers  of  the  United  States  stood 
side  by  side  on  the  battlefields  of  France.  We  look  back  but  a 
few  brief  months  when  with  hearts  in  our  throats  we  waited  for 
the  word  from  the  front  lines  in  France  as  to  whether  our  sol- 
dier boys  standing  side  by  side  would  be  able  to  stop  the  on- 
coming Hun.  The  way  they  met  the  enemy  is  a  matter  of 
history.  Had  our  boys  and  their  allies  been  unsuccessful  we 
tremble  when  we  think  of  the  result.  If  Germany  had  been 
victorious,  free  government  would  have  disappeared  from  Eu- 
rope for  ages  and  the  effect  on  free  institutions  in  America  and 
elsewhere  would  have  been  probably  ruinous. 

This  morning's  sun  cast  its  beams  on  one  hundred  thousand 
lonely  homes  in  Canada  and  the  United  States.  There  sleep 
today  in  the  flowery  fields  of  France  more  than  one  hundred 
thousand  American  boys  who  left  their  homes  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  and  who  made  the  supreme  sacrifice,  and 
while  it  has  been  a  costly  experience,  it  has  brought  the  two  na- 
tions of  the  western  hemisphere  into  a  universal  brotherhood. 

When  Mr.  Heaton  invited  the  Fire  .Marshals'  Association 
of  North  America  to  come  to  Toronto  this  year,  we  knew  we 
would  be  welcome.  He  said  we  would  be  royally  entertained  and 
we  are  being  royally  entertained.  We  are  going  to  enjoy  every 
minute  of  our  stay  and  when'  we  go  home  the  pleasant  memories 
of  our  sister  nation  acquired  on  this  trip  will  stay  with  us  forever. 
President  Fleming:  I  have  now  great  pleasure  in  placing 
the  proceedings  in  charge  of  Mr.  Lewis,  the  Deputy  Fire  Mar- 
shal of  Ontario.  Mr.  Lewis  will  conduct  the  informal  part  of 
the  program. 

Mr.  George  F.  Lewis  took  the  chair.  Musical  selections,  in- 
formal reception  and  ref reshir  ■•nits  followed. 

16 


I 


SECOND  DAY'S  PROGRAM 


Wednesday,  Auguit  27,  1919. 
Morning  Seasion. 

9:301';;°"'"^'°"   ""       '"^  *°  ^^'^^  ^y   the    President  at 

•m  fu"  de  1»L  ,r",  "  '"""•""•"  »"■!  inspiration.    I 

us  a  verv  ;„»-,    *■  ^  ^-'ty-  who  IS  go mg  to  eive 

did  not  complete  at  thJ^        ^  '^  '^  ""'^  °"«  ''«>"  we 

Alaba„,.  ^°'''-  °''  STATES. 

Arkansas. 

British  Columbia. 

Connecticut. 

District  of  Columbia. 

Georgia. 

Illinois— John  G.  Gamber. 

Indiana— H.  H.  Friedley. 

Iowa— J.  A.  Tracy. 

Kansas— L.  T.  Hussey. 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana— Edward  A.  Haggerty 
Maine. 

Massachusetts. 
Michigan— Homer  Rutledge 
Minnesota-George  H.  Nettleton. 

17 


Mississippi. 

Montana. 

Nebraska — E.  D.  Reach. 

North  Carolina. 

North  Dakota— H.  L.  Reade. 

Ohio — T.  Alfred  Fleming. 

( )klaiioma — ^J.  Bart  Foster. 

Ontario — E.  P.  Heaton. 

Oregon. 

Pennsylvania. 

Saskatchewan — .Arthur  E.   Fisher. 

South  Carolina. 

South  Dakota— VV.  N.  \an  Camp. 

Tennessee — Walter  B.  Bell. 

Texas. 

Vermont — Joseph  G.  Brown. 

Virginia. 

Washington. 

West  Virginia — John  S.  Horan; 

Wisconsin — F.  W.  Kubasta. 


ASSOCIATE  MEMBERS. 

James  F.  Joseph,  Chicago. 

M.  S.  Philip,  Chicago  Heights,  111. 

A.  R.  Small,  Chicago. 

Frank  Lewis,  Boston. 

James  I.  Banash,.New  York  City. 

W.  E.  Mallalieu,  New  York  City. 

F.  R.  Morgaridge,  New  York  City. 

Herbert  C.  Williamson,  Rochester,  X.  Y. 

Ralph  E.  Riciitnan,  Cincinnati. 

George  F.  Lewis,  Toronto. 

President  Fleming:  Now  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  Pres- 
ident is  to  address  you  at  the  luncheon  today,  I  think  you  will 
agree  with  me  that  the  formal  "President's  address"  may  be  ta- 
ken as  read,  for  it  will  be  incorporated  in  the  i)roceedings  in  the 
usual  way. 

In  the  first  place,  there  are  two  or  three  things  in  connection 
with  which  our  plans  fur  the  future  should  be  immediately  draft- 
ed The  fir^t  is  a  very  c!"sc  and  definite  c"''j)eration  with  the 
National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  in  all  their  work  in  con- 
nection with  the  laboratories  and  in  connection  with  all  the  ac- 

18 


tivities  of  that  great  organization  for  the  saving  of  the  great  waste 
through  fire. 

In  the  second  place,  furnishing  to  them  everything  that  is 
possible  to  make  the  record  which  is  being  compiled  along  par- 
ticular lines  especially  helpful.  That  is  what  I  consider  the  most 
important  thing  and  the  one  that  will  be  most  fruitful  of  last- 
ing results. 

Then  we  must  develop  a  spirit  of  cooperation  with  the  Con- 
servation and  Fire  Prevention  Association  which  has  recently 
been  established  in  all  the  central  states  of  the  L'nion.  You 
doubtless  know  we  have  had  two  organizations  doing  fire  pre- 
vention work  in  almost  every  state,  especially  the  central 
ones,  the  old  Fire  Prevention  .\ssociation  and  tbe  new  war  time 
Conservation  .Association.  These  two  have  been  merged  into 
one  great  association  under  the  definite  auspices  and  direction 
of  the  National  Board. 

It  is  very  important  that  every  Fire  Marshal  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  should  give  to  that  movement  and  all  its  oper- 
ation his  most  hearty  and  definite  approval  and  support.  Co- 
operation that  will  be  constructive,  lasting  and  reliable  is  es- 
sential. 

Further,  to  make  insurance  a  real,  definite  service  in  fire  pre- 
vention. After  all,  insurance  is  really  service  and  the  insurance 
premium-getter  is  a  man  of  the  past.  He  should  not  be  con- 
nected with  insurance  at  all.  Insurance  is  a  service  which  will 
aid  more  than  anything  else  in  achieving  fire  prevention  results. 
It  is  all  very  well  for  a  F"ire  Marshal  to  go  around  premises  and 
make  recommendations  and  possibly  issue  orders,  but  he  has 
thrust  in  his  face  immediately  on  the  issuance  of  tho^e  orders  the 
fact  that  the  insurance  man  has  passed  the  risk.  If,  however, 
the  insurance  man  has  become  a  real  factor  in  fire  prevention 
and  knows  his  business,  he  will  be  able  to  say,  "Mere  is  a  hazard 
which  if  removed  would  benefit  you  materially  in  your  insurance 
rate  and  protect  your  property  in  a  satisfactory  way,"  and  in 
this  way  he  will  make  the  owner  of  the  plant  a  real  fire  pre- 
vention asset  who  will  carry  the  message  on  to  his  friends. 

Then  we  come  to  the  great  peril,  greater  than  the  recent 
war,  which  now  exists  in  twenty-two  countries  of  the  world  to- 
day, the  underhanded,  misguided  principle  that  is  allied  with 
the  principles  that  support  the  red  flag.  If  there  is  anything  in 
the  world  that  is  an  appalling  hazard  and  a  danger  to  this  coun- 
try at  the  present  moment  it  is  the  peril  of  the  I.  \V.  \\'.,  the 

19 


bolshevists  and  the  anarchistic  scxrialists.     If  there  is  one  thing 

Zvln^voJ^"'  '""  ''''■''  ^^^'""  ^"^  '^y  ^--  P'ans  to  de' 
a  sTs  fror^h*"""  '''''f 'r  ^"'■'•^^-^'O"^  '*  '"-^  the  menace  that 
arises  from  the  sources  I  have  mentioned.  Those  are  the  spe- 
cial eatures  I  wished  to  present  to  you,  and  with  that  in  mind 
I  W.I  s.mply  turn  over  what  I  have  to  say  to  the  reporter  and 
have  It  placed  m  the  record  of  the  proceedings. 


H.  «E3*  » ■& -w  #5n  i"»  ; 


PRESIDENT'S  ADDRESS. 
President  Fleming:     Never  in  the  history  of  this  organiza- 
tion have  >ts  members  faced  such  grave  problems  as  we  are  fac- 
ing  today ! 

With  a  score  of  countries  seething  like  molten  lava,  an  erup- 
lon  .s  ready,  at  any  time,  to  break  forth,  leaving  a  red  trail  of 
fire  and  a  cloud  of  sulphurous  smoke  in  its  wake. 

The  advance  horde  of  the  scum  of  Europe  is  present  in 
-North  America,  representing  the  brains  of  organizations  fatal 
to  society,  to  busmess  and  to  the  peace  of  our  firesides. 

We.  as  Fire  Marshals,  see  this  danger  and  must  meet  it  un- 
flmchmgly  and  with  loyalty  not  only  to  our  governments,  but  to 
ourselves.  .    "l  lu 

Xorth  America  is  trembling  in  the  balance,  with  an  over- 
load of  aliens,  who  seek  to  spread  their  nefarious  doctrine-by 
any  means  in  their  power-among  the  clean,  strong  and  virile 
American  and  Canadian  working  men. 

We  have  no  place  in  free  North  America  for  the  spawn  of 
Europe:  and  there  is  but  one  test  of  citizenship,  and  that  test 
is  loyalty. 

Some  one  has  well  said.  "What  I  am  to  be:  that  I  am  now 
becoming,  and  never  in  history  has  that  axiom  been  more  thor- 
oughly reahzi-!  ^han  now. 

We  have  never  held  a  convention  when  the  verv  air  was 
fraught  with  danger,  and  when  the  torch  of  the  alien  incendiary 
^  as  closer  to  our  national  powder  mills  than  it  is  today. 

I  stand  by  a  majesti.  river  and  watch  its  resistless,  steady 
tlow :  1  know  not  whence  it  rose  or  whither  it  is  goin^  I  see 
only  the  calm.  unruffle<l  bosom  of  the  mightv  stream  as  it  ebbs 
past  my  view.  All  I  know  of  this  mightv  stream  is  that  it  is 
here,  ho  ,t  is  with  our  problems;  we  do  not  know  whence  thev 
rise,  or  whither  they  flow,  but  we  do  know  that  thev  are  here,  and 
that  we  must  .solve  them,  if  we  are  to  continue  to'  be  a  free  and 
a  peaceful  nation. 

The  accumulation  of  the  present  is  the  inheritance  of  the 
past;  and  the  dynamic  force  thus  engendered  must  burst  in  the 
doors,  and  allow  us  an  unhampered  view  into  the  future-  if  not 
how  are  we.  working  in  the  dark,  to  unravel  the  skein  in  which 
IS  wound  the  destinies  of  nations? 

21 


iflR-r  jrj<"As  JrW^Ti   i^V- 


The  history  that  is  in  the  making  to.lav,  is  unprecedented : 
has  n.,  parallel.  We  cannot  judge  the  future  hv  the  past  •  the 
events  of  the  last  four  years  have  so  muddied  the  waters  that 
we  cannot  see  clearly,  and  events  have  followed  with  such  bewil- 
dering rapuhty  that  we  can  form  no  conception  at  present  of 
what  they  really  mean.  The  turmoil  of  war  is  over— for  the 
present,  hut  in  its  stead  we  see  the  bubbling  of  the  worst  that  is 
in  the  great  melting  pot  and  must  steel  ourselves  to  mc-t  ;he 
shock. 

In  this  most  critical  period,  insurance  stands  out  like  the 
rock  of  G.braltar.  Without  insurance,  the  backbone  of  com- 
merce IS  broken.  Without  insurance,  there  can  be  no  credit- 
without  credit,  there  will  be  anarchy.  Credit  cannot  e.xist  with- 
out adequate  insurance  and  protection;  insurance  cannot  live 
with  anarchy! 

The  credit  of  North  America  and  insurance  in  North  Amer- 
ica depend  now,  as  never  before,  on  a  larger  vision  and  on  the 
increased  application  of  fire  prevention  work. 

I  cannot  find  words  adequate  to  express  to  vou  the  magni- 
tude and  importance  of  the  role  that  insurance  and  the  insurance 
agent  play  in  this  period  of  reconstruction  and  unrest. 

The  insurance  agent  who  does  not  realize  that  there  is  some- 
thing vastly  more  important  and  honorable  in  the  business  than 
his  mere  premium  returns  is  asleep  at  the  switch,  tied  to  post 
and  a  stumbling  block  in  the  march  of  progression!  His  work 
IS  m  the  highest  degree  imp.jrtant,  and  upon  the  fidelity,  loy- 
alty and  thoroughness  with  which  he  conducts  his  busine.s's  de- 
pends the  future  of  this  country.  This  may  seem  a  broad  state- 
ment, but  is  a  plain  statement  of  fact. 

The  modern  insurance  agency  is  coming  into  its  own  and 
IS  employing  experts  whose  duty  it  is  to  instruct  all  the  per- 
sonnel of  an  office  in  tb.e  proper  manner  in  which  to  make  an 
mspectioni  that  will  be  fair  to  the  companv  whose  monev  i.  in- 
volved, and  to.  the  assured,  the  safety  of  whose  business  is  in 
question.  The  insurance  agent  must  make  the  assured  under- 
stand that  the  basis  of  his  insurance  rate  .lepends  upon  himself 
and  not  upon  agent  or  company,  and  the  agent's  motto  should 
be  "I  get  the  business  because  I  give  service."  On  that  word 
service  depends  the  success  or  failure  of  the  business.  Failure 
means  ruin  tu  our  country.  The  agents,  wli.  in  frie"  Mv  cwmpe- 
tition  strive  to  educate  the  assured  so  that  he  m  able  to 


safeguard  his  plant  from  fire,  are  being  loyal  to  their  country. 
The  agent  who  can  give  the  best  service  will  get  the  business. 

There  always  will  be  fire  insurance  for,  without  it.  this 
country  would  face  ruin,  and  there  is  an  upward  trend  now  to- 
ward a  better  understanding  between  the  company,  the  agent 
and  the  man  who  pays  for  the  policy. 

We  all  kViovv  of  the  magnificent,  patriotic  and  self-sacri- 
ficing work  that  has  been  accompli.shed  for  the  government  by 
that  splendid  body  of  men— the  National  Eioard  of  Fire  Under- 
writers. No  more  masterly  service  could  have  been  rendered 
our  government  during  the  war  than  that  so  freely  and  gladly 
given  by  the  National  Board.  They  will  face  present  and  fu- 
ture grave  problems  with  the  same  loyal  steadfastness  that  has 
characterized  their  work  in  the  past,  and  we  may  be  assured 
that  they  will  be  a  veritable  bulwark  of  strength  to  our  mem- 
bers in  our  various  lines  of  activity. 

Fortunately  right  now  the  veil  of  the  future  is  rent  so  that 
we  can,  in  a  small  way,  discern  a  little  light,  and  it  is  up  to  us 
individually,  and  to  our  powerful  organization  in  particular,  to 
see  that  this  light  is  so  amplified,  that  the  dark  places  shall  be 
illuminated. 

We  must  call  to  the  colors  every  available  unit  in  the  fire 
protectioni  grand  division.  There  must  be  no  reserves.  We  must 
throw  our  entire  strength  onto  the  firing  line,  and— win. 

There  is  no  such  command  as  "retreat;"  we  must  go  for- 
ward, or  fall. 

Canada,  before  the  war,  was  a  great  country.  Canada  has 
emerged  from  the  war  a  greater  country.  Before  the  world  be- 
came involved  m  a  conflict,  the  like  of  which  had  never  beeti 
seen,  the  like  of  which  will,  please  God,  never  be  witnessed  again, 
Canada  was  a  vast  country  of  undeveloped  resources.  Xo  one 
knew  her  latent  man  powder.  Few  realized  that  there  slumbered 
amid  the  lakes  and  pines,  a  giant  who  would  spring  up,  clothed, 
armed  and  equipped,  to  take  his  place  on  the  front  page  of  his- 
tory. The  little  about  Canar'  •  that  filtered  out  from  the  fast- 
nesses and  apparent  solitude  was  not  enough  to  arouse  the  re- 
mainder of  North  America  to  what  a  grand  country  lay  yet  un- 
broken and  undeveloped,  and  few  glanced  at  the  map  long 
enough  to  see  that  over  half  of  North  America  was  under  the 
Union  Jack. 

Then  war  came,  and  in  a  moment  the  men  of  the  lakes  and 
woods,  of  the  plains  and  mountains,  leaped  into  the  glare  of  con- 

23 


J 


"'«»,  and  ih-  rr  ■ 

'"«■  unthinkinc-  h^w  '  Canada  rosp  f.  Asking  no  ;.;!4 

"  ^as  a  rude  awaJc*.n7  ^''^  P«^P'e  of  »(,     r  "°  surprise  to 

^ow,  every  hat  J.     r.  ^^^'^'^  of 

^^-ndacclain,/''*'^-^^  to  Canada;  everv       • 
^      f^"PPose  every  fan,-,     •  ^  '°'^^  •'^'ns  in  one 

e^  ^"^d;  all  animosity  iff       "■^^'^'ons  as  one     .^  P^^^'"' 
"T  member  of  that    1    •     ^°'"^°"en;  aH  bl^       '^"  '''"eaches 

^"^^ -no  such  ZVaT'/  ""'^  ^^  't    r'^m?"^;  ''^^-     ^v 
So  it  i,  with  th  '"'•'■^"der."  '^'"'"°"  defense,  and 

^"d  'mpregTiable  front  ."'°^'"^"-'^  who/e  n  ^  '""'"^  f'^'s  m- 
^"•^at  hazard  of  war  h  ?  '"  "^^^  '-^  vS  P'-^^^ntin^  a  solTd 
'"triads  of  AneJoT  '""""^'^t  the  es  r  ^"^  ^'"ong      T  . 

-'•-d  them  frv;fr"°"^  ""^^r  the  ^;?rrrt^^"''^--^^e 
'^''^  banners  of  ,u     u  '^'^'^^eousness  and 

g^rand  fJap-   .  u  "'^  branches   i, 

'"-  '«^^:X'*  ^-'' '-."";  a"„7,^^-  <-  »„. 

.      l""' victory  „,.,,  „  '""  ■=0^.,.^  ,,. 

f-^- J-f:,?  ^'*r  ^-';  •-.  .-^  •.  ,.a„ 

24  ^^a'"-    The  bond. 


nps 

lid, 

lat 

of 

to 

0. 


REPORT  OF  SECRETARY-TREASURER  FOR   1918-1919. 

Receipts. 

Balance  on  hand  August  30,  1918 $156.83 

Dues  received  from: 

1917-1918. 

Maine    $  20.00 

Montana   20.00 

Oregon    20.00 


1918-1919. 

British  Columbia  20.00 

Illinois  20  00 

Indiana   20.00 

Iowa   10.00 

Kansas 20.00 

Louisiana   20.00 

Maine   20.00 

Minncbo-ta  20.00 

Montana   20.00 

North  Carolina (Paid  in  advance  last  year) 

North  Dakota 20.00 

Ohio  20.00 

Oklahoma  20.00 

Ontario  20.00 

Oregon    20.00 

Pennsylvania  20.00 

Saskatchewan 20.00 

South  Carolina 20.00 

South  Dakota 20.00 

Tennessee  20.00 

Texas  20.00 

Virginia   20.00 

Washington  20.00 

Wisconsin   20.00 


$  510.00 


Total  of  Active  Membership  paid $  666.23 

ASSOCIATE  MEMBERSr.IP. 

Craig  Belk  10.00 

William  S.  Boyd  10.00 

C.  J.  Doyle 10.00 

29 


Chas.  E.  Dox  i,,,j„ 

Herman  L.  Ekern  j,,,)^) 

H.  Stanley  Ellis m  o,^ 

Edwin  S.  Foltz jq  y^ 

William  B.  Goodwin  jq oo 

W.  E.  Haines 10  00 

Ira  G.  Hoagland  10  oo 

Richard  T.  Hupgard 10.00 

Thomas  R.  Johnstone  lo.oo 

James  F.  Joseph  jo  qo 

James  S.  Kemper  lo.oo 

Frank  Lewis  10  00 

George  F.  Lewis k,  y,) 

John  Lind  jO.oo 

J.  E.  Lyons lO.oo 

W.  E.  Malialieu  i,)  qo 

M.  J.  Miller  ""'.,  lo!oO 

H.  L.  Miner  jq.OO 

Frank  R.  Morgaridge  lO.OO 

James  L  Naghten  10.00 

Ralph  E.  Richman. 10.00 

G.  P.  Rog-ers iq.OO 

W.  C.  Shinn  10  00 

A.  R.  Small  10  00 

J.  S.  Speed  lO.oo 

E-   R-   Stotts   10.00 

Frank  C.  Stover  10  00 

Franklin  H.  Went  jvorth  lo.oo 

1919-1920. 

James  I.  Banash  10.00 

Walter  E.  Price .' ..."  jooo 

Herbert  C.   Williamson lo.oo        $    340.00 

Total  receipts  $1,006.83 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Badges  for  Sioux  Falls  conventiun $  62.92 

Reporting  and  expenses  of  Stenographer  for 

Sioux  Falls  convention'         6.5.00 

Plates   for  minutes   17  :-,i\ 

Printing  minutes  392.60 

30 


4 


T 


Proof  reading  and  index  of  minutes ir,_m 

Express  advance  copies  of  minutes  1.07 

Freight  and  drayage  of  minutes o  h<> 

Envelopes  for  mailing  minutes  •>  -,0 

S*^*'°""y  "'ZZ;;     2«;5() 

Multigraphing  .5,,,, 

Printing  tentative  programs  .  7  -,(, 

!^f*=S^  !;■    S^i^OO 

^"'"^"'"* i>.Or  $  030.55 

Balance  on  hand  «  ;i7(i  •>« 

Respectfully  submitted, 

JOHX  G.  GA.>TP,ER. 

Secretary- IVeasurer. 
Moved  by  Mr.  Van  Camp,  seconded  bv  Mr.  Bell,  that  the 
report  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer  be  referred  to  an  audit  com- 
mittee.   (Carried.) 

ft-esident  Fleming:  I  will  now  appoint  a  committee  consist- 
ing of  Messrs.  Bell.  Kubasta  and  Brown  to  take  charge  of  the 
audit  of  this  report. 

I  think  it  would  be  wise  at  this  time  to  have  read  any  mes- 
sages which  have  come  from  different  members. 

The  Secretary  read  a  telegram  from  Mr.  W.  A.  McSwain 
State  Fire  Marshal  of  South  Carolina. 

Secretary  Gamber:     I  might  say  that  we  have  at  last  suc- 
ceeded in  interesting  the  Fire  .Marshal  of  Washington.  D    C 
Heretofore  we  have  never  been  able  to  do  so. 

The  Secretary  read  a  letter  from  George  S.  Watson,  Fire 
Marshal  of  Washington,  D.  C,  who  also  raised  the  question  of 
exits  from  circus  tents. 

President  Fleming:  I  think  that  question  would  be  a  very 
suitable  one  for  our  question  box.  and  I  would  suggest  that  the 
Secretary  put  a  notation  therein  which  will  be  answered  later. 

r  ^'^\f^J'^^^^'  read  a  communication  from  the  Fire  Marshal 
of  New  York. 

Mr.  Van  Camp:  I  think  it  would  be  well  that  mention  be 
made  m  the  minutes  of  the  fact  that  these  letters  were  received 
and  read  by  the  Secretary. 

President  Fleming:  Possibly  it  would  be  wise  for  someone 
to  suggest  that  the  Secretary  express  our  appreciation  of  the  let- 

31 


I'  I 


ters  which  have  been  rp,-»;..»^       j 

ab.se„ce  of  the    v     e  .       C  rHeT     "■"'•  '"'  °"^  ''^'''  »'  ^^c 
wriicrs.     (teamed  unanimously  ) 

n,H.eI  '  Thl  H^ -."i^Tr  "  ■■"  """'"•'  "'  '-"-«  corn- 
P"s  to  the  Committee  <m  Exhil, ,,  fTI"  '  "  "'  "'" 
.o  tea.  the  „pot,  „,  ,Ha,  eomll;':;'?-  .iVtel^onrr'  ^"""' 

.ion.*;"!"^,  .e':„r:l'r'  r  —> --  »'  -^^  As^octa. 
the  NationarBol,d  „  "  "  u'd'e"r  ,*  ""'  "  ""  "'""•'«  " 
of  this  vear  and  'ptn,  iVt'ZTT  °"  '  "*  "'  '""'"' 
profitably  at  their  headqirr"--.-  '"  "">■  "'""'"">'  »"« 

Gamler^TSirNrHrerR'n^i  "'/'-"■-''  »'  Ohio,  Mr 
o(  North  Carol?™    Mr    R         ?,''*'  °'  *■»=«»",  Mr.  Young 

Dakota,  whr^eared  ,f7he°  h»:c"e"o",\r;v^rc°'  ^"'5 
myself.  ««"»ciilc  ot  Air.   Van  Camp,  and 

comLr;a'„"dt''rdno.lf„Ti."-"'  ^  *""'^  -^°"  »•  "■- 
However,  i,  it  is  »  d.^ed  iS  J:;.'  i"""'"'  "•  '""  "  "•"-■ 

on  ,h'?;L1™  """"^^    ^™'"  '^  ""  ■"""  o<  the  convention 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  TO  CO-OPERATE  WITH  NA 
TIONAL  BOARD. 

P.reIt'de?w'"rSrap°;i^:eTh"r  J'*  ^^^  ^•--'  B-""  »' 
wUh  the  vote  o,  the  F^e  Malh'a,r-T«;?a^r„TI'„"r,h  reH" 
at  .ts  last  eonvention.  was  called  to  order  bv  ChairmanT  T 

Mr.  Hns.  "Irl  ^ere  pre:e"„l:"rss:k'r  AlL'ISn'; 
Columbus.  Ohin,  President  r.f  th«  r-       ^r      ,    ,  i-Iemmg. 

John  0.  camber;  Spring,- ^dr'n'lti^'^C:;  .tTs-; 

32 


[ 


No  th  r  *',"•,"  "'"""•  '"-^=  J-"-  K.  YouHK.  Raleigh. 
^orth  Carol.na:  Homer  Kutled^e.  Lansinj,.  Michigan;  and  S. 
E  Crans.  Lead  s  „„,  Dakota.  Mr.  Crans  was  present  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  W  .  N.  \  an  Camp,  who  wa.s  unable  to  come  east. 

The  session  opened  with  remarks  upon  the  .subject  of  "Co- 
operat,on  by  Mr.  W.  E.  Malialieu.  General  Manager  of  the 
National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  and  Mr.  T.  Alfred  Flem- 
ing, I  resident  of  the  Association. 

F..llowing  these,  there  was  a  consideration  of  joint  activ- 
.  les  along  the  educational  lines  represented  by  the  National 
Boards  Committee  on  I'ublic  Relations.  A  paper  upon  "The 
War  on   Carelessness."  prepared  by   Mr.    E.   VV.    West.  Chair- 

Te'of  Mr.^;r::;:""  ^^^ '"'' '"  '''■  ^^^^^'^^  ■- '-  ^"- 

Mr.  Brearley.  of  the  Committee  on   Public  Relations    also 

^poke  on     i-ire  Prevention  Education  in  Schools."  laying  some 

emphasis  upon  the  remarkably  wide  acceptance  by  the  school 

systems  o    the  country  of  the  fire  prevention  manual  entitled 

bafeguardmf,'  the  Home  Against  Fire." 

Mr.  Fleming  then  delivered  an  address  upon  "Press  Co-op- 
erat.on  in  Fire  Prevention."  and  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  pa- 
trim.c  spirit  of  editors  a  .1  reporters  ,n  the  aid  received  from 

In  the  discussion  which  followed  the  papers,  a  number 
of  interesting  points  were  brought  out.  Colonel  Young  de- 
scrbed  the  operation  of  the  Safety  Leagues  which  had  been  or- 
ganized among  the  school  children  of  North  Carolina  Mr 
Fleming  told  of  a  plan  for  a  series  of  fire  prevention  meetings 
m  di.ferent  cities  in  Ohio.  Mr.  Hussey  made  reference  to  the 
succe-ssful  use  of  home  in.spection  blanks  by  the  school  children 
m  Kansas  and  gave  an  account  of  the  distribution  of  fire  pre- 
vention cartoon  cuts  to  42.-,  Kansas  newspapers.  Mr.  Roe  and 
others  referred  to  fire  prevention  education  in  the  schools  of  their 
states. 

r«nwV''  '""'■'•'  ""^  ''''  <li^cussion.  a  comparison  of  statistics 
resulted  in  an  estimate  of  1.5,000  fatalities  from  fires  in  the  United 
States  each  year.  This  estimate  was  concurred  in  by  all  present. 
The  afternoon  session  which  was  called  to  order  at  2;{0 
p.  m.  was  devoted  to  the  work  of  the  Actuarial  Bureau  commit- 
tee and  was  preceded  by  an  inspection  of  the  facilities  of  the 
bureau.  Mr  James  Wyper,  Chairman  of  the  committee,  dis- 
cussed the  -History.  Aims  and  Objects  of  the  Bureau."    He  was 

33 


rTK^^^i 


followe«l  by  Mr.  John  G.  Camber  upon  the  subject  .,f  "The  Xe- 
cess.ty  for  Uniform  Reports'  after  which  .Mr.  Charles  II.  Lum 
m  charge  of  the  ,^,eration  of  the  bureau,  went  into  considerable 
detail  as  to  the  methods  employed,  and  Mr.  L.  T  Hussev  pre- 
sented a  paper  u,k>„  the  plans  for  furnishing  lo.ss  information 
service  to  the  various  companies,  in  which  he  emphasized  its 
value  as  a  check  to  incendiarism. 

Considerable  discussion  followed  the  above  papers  for  all 
present  were  interested  in  the  efforts  to  keep  track  of  the  opera- 
tions of  mcendiarie;;.  particularly  in  their  migration  from  state 
to  state. 

Upon  Friday.  January  lo.  the  morninjr  session  confined 
Itself  to  the  enK.neerinjr  phases  of  fire  prevention  as  represented 
by  he  Committees  on  Fire  Prevention  and  on  Construction  of 
Buildings.  Mr.  Sheldon  Catlin,  Chairman  of  the  former  commit- 
tee, opened  the  session  by  giving  an  account  of  'The  Aims  and 
Objects  of  Both  Committees."  dealing  with  the  question  of  city 
surveys  as  long  conducted  by  the  ommittee  in  the  reduction 
of  conflagration  hazard,  lie  also  described  in  some  detail  the 
many  forms  of  conservation  service  which  had  been  rendered  bv 
the  Hoard  to  the  various  departments  of  the  federal  government 
during  the  war  period. 

Following  Mr.  Catlin's  paper.  Colonel  Young,  of  North 
Carolina,  spoke  upon  the  subject  of  "Drills  and  Training  of 
Fire  Department^  '•  a.  i  autlincd  tlie  system  of  special  training 
that  had  been  inaugurated  in  his  state. 

John  Kenlon.  Chief  of  the  Xew  York  City  Fire  department, 
was  the  next  speaker,  his  topic  being  "The  Xew  York  Fire 
College  and  Drill  Schrol."  He  concluded  bv  extending  an  in. 
vitation.  through  the  Fire  Marshals'  committee,  to  firemen  in 
other  cities  to  take  advantage  of  the  facilities  of  the  Xew  York 
Fire  College. 

Mr.  George  W.  f5,H,th.  Chief  Engineer  of  the  Committee  on 
l<ire  Prevention,  went  into  particulars  concerning  the  city  sur- 
veys made  by  field  parties  of  engineers  of  the  Xational  Board 
and  told  of  many  large  fires  which  were  foreshadowed  in  the 
committee's  reports  upon  civic  conditit>ns.  He  also  described 
the  Standard  Classification  Schedule. 

The  session  concluded  with  a  paper  bv  Professor  Ira  H 
V\  oolson,  Consulting  Engineer  of  the  Committee  on  Construc- 
tion of  Building.s.  In  .peaking  up.,n  ll,e  important  topic  of  "Re- 
ducmg  the  Life  and  Property  Hazard  of  Public  Buildings,"  Pro- 

34 


I 


fessor  \Vools„n  indicated  the  ur  ent  nee.l  of  improvements  in 
most  of  the  public  buildings  thnai^hout  the  United  States. 

An  animated  discussion  among  those  present  dealt  partic- 
ularly with  the  hazards  in  school  buildings  and  developed  some 
differences  of  opinion  as  to  the  extent  to  which  such  buildings 
had  been  safeguarded. 

The  concluding  session  of  the  conference  was  called  to  order 
upon  Fr.day  afternoon  at  2:W  p.  m.  to  consider  the  question  of 
Incendiarism."  The  opening  address  was  made  bv  Mr  X  S 
Bartow,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Incendiarism'  and  Arson' 
Mr.  Hartow  explained  the  reasons  that  had  kad  to  the  aband- 
donment  of  the  old  reward  system  and  explained  the  new  line  of 
work  which  is  now  meeting  with  considerable  success  speaking 
warmly  cf  the  results  accomplished  bv  the  various  Fire  Mar- 
shals" departments  in  combating  this  widespi.„..  evil. 

Mr.  Rutledge  made  a  speech  upon  the  "Arson  Trust"  as 
U  had  come  under  his  observation  in  Michigan. 

Next.  Mr.  F.  R.  Mor.garidge.  in  charge  of  the  work  of  the 
Committee  on  Incendiarism  and  Arson,  discussed  "The  Inter- 
change of  Information  Concerning  Arrests.  Convictions  etc  " 
and  advocated  a  plan  by  which  each  Fire  Marshal  should  have 
the  benefit  of  all  information  secured  in  all  other  states. 

The  formal  program  then  concluded  with  an  address  upon 
Pyromania"  by  Mr.  Roe.  in  which  he  discussed  the  nature  of 
thi!»  abersticn  and  methods  for  guarding  against  it. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  preceding  conferences,  the  formal  pro- 
gram was  followed  by  considerable  informal  discussion  \fter 
the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Roe's  remarks,  the  committee  went  into 
executive  session,  in  the  course  of  which  the  following  resolu- 
tions were  discussed  and  unanimously  adopted : 

I.  "RESOL\"ED.  That  this  committee  recommend  to  the 
Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America  that  an  effort  be 
made  during  1910  to  have  fire  prevention  education  adopted  by 
the  school  systems  of  their  respective  states,  and  that  to  this 
end  they  communicate  officially  with  their  various  State  Super- 
intendents of  Education,  recommending  for  this  purpose  the  fire 
prevention  school  manual  prepared  for  the  United  States  Bu- 
reau of  Education,  under  the  title  of  'Safeguarding  the  Home 
Against  Fire.'  " 

3.  RESOiAED.  That  this  committee  recommend  to  the 
Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America  that  they  request 
members  to  transmit  to  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwrit- 

35 


mr^ 


ers   at    frequent    intervals    records   cf   condemnation    and    defi- 
ciencies of  buildings  ordered  by  them." 

3      "RESOL\-ED.  That  in  view  of  the  generous  offer  of 

nd  the  privileges  of  their  institution  to  the  firemen  of  other 
states,  this  committee  recommcn.I  to  the  Fire  Marshals"  \sso- 
aation  of  North  America  that  they  encourage  the  J.-irc  aepart- 
ments  m  their  respective  states  to  take  advantage  of  this  -alu- 
ahle  op,>ortun,ty:  also  that  if  possible,  they  bring  some  man 
ironi  their  own  organization  under  this  training  " 

the  t^-  "^'^f  ?^V^^-  '^'^^^  t'^i'^  *^o>"-ittee  views  with  approval 
the  action  of  the  National  Hoard's  Actuarial  F,ureau  in  prepar 
>ns  for  an  exchange  of  loss  information  as  a  check  upon  the 
operations  of  incendiaries,  an.l  that  it  recommend/toTeVi 
Marshals  Association  of  North  America  that  it  request  it.  mem- 
bers to  furnish  to  the  National  Hoard  brief  summaries  .  iZ 
cal  m.ormation  in  their  possession  in  the  case  of  all  suspects." 

...  'AMIF.REAS.  The  safety  of  our  institutions  and  the 
welfare  of  the  public  is  menaced  to  an  increasing  degree  hv  the 
vicious   an<l  destructive   1.    \\-.    W.-bolshevik  propaganda;  and 

\\  HERE.AS.  Serious  fires  have  already  been  associated  with 
this  activity ;  therelore.  be  it 

RESOU'ED,  That  your  committee  recommend  to  the  Fire 
Marshals  Association  of  North  America  a  svstematic  inve'tigl! 
t.on  o  the  activities  of  such  organizations'  in  their  respective 
states.  i'<-<-ii»i. 

!'•  "l^ESOl  \-EI).  That  the  classified,  document,  clipping 
and  information  files  .,f  the  National  Hoard  of  Fire  L'ndervv-Ht 
cr.s  upon  fire.s  fire  prevention,  fire  protection  and  associated  sub- 
jects  .s^iould  be  made  a  repository  for  filable  .lata  bv  the  va- 
rious State  Fire  Marshals,  in  or.ler  that  the  aggregate  material 
may  be  made  available  for  the  use  of  all  of  ^henf.  as  wdl  as 
for  the  use  of  editors,  research  workers,  an.l  other  seekers  for 
mformation. 

r.     "RESOL\EI).  That  in  considerati.^i  of  the  disastrous 
.re.s   which    freqtiently    occur    in    municipal,   state   and     e  er 
public  buildings,  due  to  careless  supervision  and  defective  con- 
struction, and   in  consideration   of  the  great   financial   and   hi.s- 
toric  va  ue  of  such  buildings  and  contents,  your  committee  rec- 
ommend that  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America 
through  the  several  st.-ite  departments  constituting  its  member 
ship,  give   .special  attention   to   the   inspection  of   this  class   of 

36 


buil(lin<,'s  in  their  several  states,  and  insofar  as  possible,  secure 
the  removal  of  fire  hazards  found  to  exist  in  such  buildings." 

8.  "RESOLVED,  That  the  Fire  Marshals'  As- ociation  of 
\orth  America  prepare  and  recommend  a  blank  (copy  of  which 
will  be  forwarded  as  s(H)n  as  prepared)  for  the  keeping  of  fire 
records  that  shall  be  uniform  for  all  Fire  Marshals'  departments 
m  respect  to  classes  of  occupancy  and  causes  of  fire,  and  which 
is  in  agreement  with  the  standard  classification  list  of  occu- 
pancy liazards  in  use  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Under- 
writers and  previously  adopted  by  the  Association." 

0.  "RESOLVED,  That  your  committee  recommend  the 
exertion  of  all  possible  influence  to  make  effective  the  results 
of  the  engineering  investigations  of  the  National  I5oard  of  Fire 
I'nderwriters,  as  follows: 

a.  That  the  cities  which  are  the  subjects  of  surveys  by 
the  Committee  on  Fire  Prevention  be  encouraged  to  adopt  the 
recommendations  for  public  safety  included  in  the  reports  of 
these  surveys. 

b.  That  the  model  ordinances  co\ering  the  storage  and 
handling  of  inflammable  liquids  and  other  highly  inflammable 
substances,  and  of  explosives,  be  endorsed  for  general  adoption. 

c.  'I'hat  they  use  their  efforts  in  furthering  a  wider  knowl- 
edge of  the  application  of  the  National  I'.oard  Standard  Schedule, 
as  applying  to  the  grading  of  cities  and  towns,  with  reference 
to  their  defenses  and  physical  conditions." 

10.  "RESOL\'ED,  That  the  public-spirited  interest  in  fire 
prevention  widely  manifested  by  the  American  press  be  rec- 
ognized in  the  fullest  co-operation  therein  on  the  part  of  the 
Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America,  and  that  every 
effort  be  made  to  facilitate  the  acquirement  of  desired  information 
by  the  editors  of  the  country." 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

L.  T.  HUSSEY,  Chairman. 

President  Fleming:  In  connection  with  this  report  I  would 
like  to  say  that  there  are  a  number  of  resoluiions  which  are 
quite  important  and  1  would  request  that  during  the  conven- 
tion these  matters  be  taken  care  of  in  an  official  manner.  If  you 
have  not  obtained  a  copy  of  this  rejiort  and  perused  it  carefuUv, 
I  suggest  that  you  do  so,  so  that  you  will  be  able  to  discuss  it 
and  take  proper  action  upon  the  matters  which  are  referred  to 
by  resolution. 

37 


mm 


«B 


in  this  countrv.     h  is  on"  o    the  n^f  '  ""  ■'''"'  '"^''''^'' 

Canada  are  afflicted      U>        "^V      """"''  '"'"^  '''^'''^  '''^  '" 

>ou   I  found  them   scared   to  become  identified' with   a' v   hod 
'"   men  except  themselves.     The  very   fact   tlv.t  ^ 

o.  u,e„  have  ...„,■„..,,  ,„  „:::;  ::^  j^::,^:":,:'::: 

or  two  have  made  their  appearance  is  evi.ience  nf  tl-  V 

o    ana,rs  to  wl.ch  1  have  referred,     ^^•„v  that  condid.^,  ^        ^ 

cnu-d  t  Vu"''''\    "'^""•^'^-  -^^  ''-'^  ^-  '"  ^^--''^  are  CO 
rne     ue  .ladiy  endorse  the  su^j^estion  made  bv   vour  Presi- 

.     that  there  should  he  the  heartiest  and  fullest  co-.^pera    ,   , 

i.e  u-een  the  .Assocation  and  the  .Vational   I'.oard.  and    ve        d" 

-t  be  jealous  o,  any  action  the  numbers  in  the  Vni   >    ^t  tes 

•\aunnai    hoard  ui  anv  wav    tir  to  urnfif  i,,. 

this  regard  we  shall  be  „ad  to  li  Z     \  tXIJZT'  U 
1-  w.se  to  inform  the  members  of  this  .\s  "  l  /   ,::;'    ' 

no  connectu,n  or  unanimity   between  our   Fire   Ah. ';:,•"     n^ 
ami   the   Canadian    I-,re    L-nderwriters'    \ss„ci-,tion     bnr    I    i 
that  this  lack  of  co-operation  wdl  be  ren.ed.ed       I '      j J^ 
-  far  as  you  are  concerned,  if  y,.,  ..„  „e,,.  the  Xatio         M,; 
"  M.nu.  way  to  extend  its  jurisdiction  to  Canada  I  will    J    ^e 

htartdy  a>  you  .lo  m  the  f,.reat  cuntrv  to  the  s,,uth 

President  Fleming:     .Mr.  lleaton,  who  is   a  the  hcl     !  ,u 

orp:an,..atinn  y,,,,  have  mentioned:^  '  '  '"  '^' 
Mr.  Heaton:     .Mr.  J.  |j.  |,aidlaw  is  the  President    ,f  th    r 

na.han  Pire  Underwriters"  .\s.sociation  '  "^'  '  '■ 

President  Fleming:     I  mi^ht  say  that  I  saw  Mr  I  ai."aw  in 

the   room    this    mrirnin-   h,..-,,,,-   th/                 ■  ^^^  '" 

""•"  "-■ •  i-T.inK. .■,„.  ,,;r,;;.:s,;:i;."Mf ,";:;;;,! 

38 


law  with  us  on  a  number  nf  occasions  durinjj;  the  sessions.  Sure- 
ly with  all  the  boundary  lines  wiped  out  of  existence  and  a  com- 
plete and  definite  fraternity  established  between  the  two  coun- 
tries, the  j^reat  movement  of  fire  prevention  must  make  progress. 

Mr.  Mallalieu:  May  I  just  say  that  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Na- 
tional lioard  of  I-'ire  Underwriters  that  the  imaginary  boundary 
line  between  Canada  and  the  United  States  be  blotted  out  en- 
tirely, even  from  our  minds,  and  that  we  are  ready  right  now 
to  be  styled:  "The  .\ational  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  of 
North  .Kmerica."  If  it  will  help  you  in  the  furtherance  of  your 
work  in  Canada  let  me  assure  you  that  we  are  always  ready  to 
co-o]>erate  with  you  to  the  fullest  e.xtent,  as  we  are  with  anv 
body  of  men  engaged  in  the  work  of  fire  i)revention  in  anv  part 
of  the  globe. 

President  Fleming:  'I'hat  is  very  fine.  That  has  always 
been  the  spirit  of  the  .Vatimial  Hoard  of  l-'ire  L'nderwriters. 

The  next  cjrder  of  business  is  the  report  of  the  Committee 
to  Co-operale  with  the  I'ederal  Government.  .Mr.  V\'.  E.  Mal- 
lalieu, C.eiieral  Manager  of  the  .National  Hoard.  .New  York,  is 
the  Chairman  of  that  committee,  and  for  the  benefit  of  those  mem- 
bers who  do  not  know  Mr.  Mallalieu,  let  me  sav  that  he  has  been 
the  (k-neral  Manager  of  the  National  Hoard  for  nianv  vears.  Me 
has  done  marvelous  work  in  the  field  of  fire  i)reventi()n.  It  was 
.Mr.  .Mallalieu's  th.  ughtfulness  at  the  beginning  of  the  war  that 
relieved  the  L'nited  States  government  from  the  almost  impos- 
sible task  of  compiling  a  complete  list  of  the  industrial  assets 
of  the  country  from  which  we  have  come,  and  jilaced  at  the 
'!isi)osal  of  the  government  at  a  moment's  notice  records  which 
were  otiierwise  nnol)tainal)lc  in  less  than  three  or  four  vears  of 
hard  work. 


I 

I 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  TO  CO-OPERATE  WITH 
FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT. 

Mr.  Mallalieu:  Mr.  Chairman  and  members  of  this  .-Xsso- 
ciation,  1  fell  i)rompte(l  to  a])ologize  for  the  appearance  of  any 
report  on  this  subject  because  we  have  done  practically  nothing. 
Vou  will  recall  thai  in  May  last  your  good  Secretary  jogged 
my  memory  of  the  fact  that  I  was  the  Ciiairman  of  this  com- 
mittee appointed  to  co-operate  with  the  federal  government, 
and  1  at  once  got  in  t(.uch  with  you  and  as  the  result  of  the 
corres])ondence  that  i)assed  between  us  concluded  it  would  be 
better  not  to  do  anything  ;it  thi-^  time.     That  was  in  .May,  1010. 

39 


There  had  been  some  discussion  in  Januarv.  when  vou  were  in 
New  \ork.  as  to  the  work  which  was  then  in  contemplation  bv 
the  Bureau  of  Standards,  and  also  a  number  of  engineering  s^ 
c.et.es.  We  thought  it  better-you.  Mr.  President.  Secretary 
Gamber.  and  myself-to  wait  until  we  could  ascertain  whether 
he  Fire  Marshals  Association  of  Xorth  America  would  dove- 
tail with  the  various  engineering  societies.  They  have  not  pro- 
gressed as  anticipated.  Only  one  society  has  endorsed  the  move- 
ment, and  .t  does  not  .seem  to  be  the  proper  time  just  now  for 
the  P. re  Marshals  As.sociation  to  place  itself  on  record  as  being 
a  party  to  what  they  plan  to  do. 

President  Fleming:  I  might  say  this  was  verv  thoroughlv 
discussed,  and  it  was  th  .•  juc:gment  of  all  concerned.  Knowing 
the  facts  as  they  existed  and  the  development  st.ge  of  certain 
activities,  that  this  committee's  work  should  be  passed  for  the 
time  being. 

The  next  order  uf  i,usiness  is  the  report  of  the  Committee 
on  Membership,  the  Chairman  of  which  is  Mr.  F.  R  M„rgaridire 
of  the  National  Board,  Xew  York. 

REPORT  OF  MEMBERSHIP  COMMITTEE. 

Mr.  Morgaridge:     It  affords  me  considerable  gratification 
to  submit  this  report  of  the  Committee  on  Membership,  although 
the  committee  as  a  whole  had  very  little  to  do  with  the  increase 
in    the   membership   of   this   Association.     Som»   of   us   p-haps 
rather   questioned    the    a.lvisability    last   year   of    including   the 
f  resident  and  Secretary  as  ex-officio  members  of  each  commit- 
tee, and  I  presume  there  was  some  doubt  in  the  minds  of  most 
of  us  as  to  whether  it  might  not  be  better  to  pass  these  things 
around  among  the  ...embers  as  far  as  they  would  go.    Some  how- 
ever-and   they   represented   a   majority   of  the   membership- 
deemed  It  advisable  to  have  the  President  and  Secretary  of  this 
Association  as  ex-officio  members  of  each  committee,  and  for- 
tunately  their  judgment   has  proved   sound,  and    I   am   able   to 
submit  a  report.    The  committee  has  not  been  very  active     We 
have  had  a  very  great  deal  of  correspondence  with  the  officers 
of  the  Association  and  with  each  other  in  connection  with  in- 
creasing the  membership,  and  Mr.  Gamber  has  informed  me  that 
there  are  twenty-six  active  m.  mhers  in  good  ^ta.uli^g  and  thirty- 
three  associate  members  today,  as  compared  with  twenty-three 
paid-up   active    members    and   only   four  associate   members   a 
year  ago.     This  increase  in  the  a.s.sociate  membership  is  due  to 

40 


• 


the  activity  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  this  Association,  as- 
sisted to  some  extent,  I  presume,  by  the  President,  in  placing 
the  proposition  of  affihation  with  this  Association  before  fire 
prevention  peop"?  all  over  the  country.  1  think  the  Secretary 
asked  you  to  submit  the  names  of  prospective  members  and 
when  these  were  received  blanks  were  sent  out,  accompanied 
by  invitations  to  join  our  Association.  That  has  resulted  in  the 
material  increase  we  now  have  in  the  associate  membership. 

The  other  day  I  received  a  letter  from  the  State  Fire  Mar- 
shal of  Connecticut  who  said  his  department  would  be  repre- 
sented here  today,  and  that  he  was  an.xious  to  become  identified 
with  our  organization,  and  1  think  everyone  concerned  is  desir- 
ous of  becoming  identified  with  us  as  soon  as  we  get  into  close 
touch  with  them.  Yesterday,  however,  I  received  another  let- 
ter from  the  Deputy  Fire  Marshal  of  Connecticut,  saying  that 
Mr.  Egan  had  been  taken  away  on  important  business  and  that 
he  had  delegated  his  deputy  to  represent  him  here.  I  think  we 
can  get  all  the  states  to  join,  where  they  have  Fire  Marshals, 
if  we  communicate  with  them  and  invite  them  to  do  so. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  very  glad  indeed  to  have  heard 
the  remarks  by  Mr.  Morgaridge.  I  may  say  that  both  Secre- 
tary Camber  and  myself  are  always  ready  and  anxious  to  help 
any  committee  to  the  fullest  extent  of  our  ability. 

Moved  by  Mr.  Reade,  seconded  by  Mr.  Dell,  that  the  report 
of  the  Committee  on  Membership  be  received  and  printed  in  the 
proceedings  of  this  convention.     (Carried.) 

PrcMdent  Fleming:  The  next  order  of  business  is  the  re- 
port of  the  Committee  ou  the  btate  Building  Code.  The  Chair- 
man of  that  committee  is  Mr.  George  H.  Xettleton,  State  Plre 
Ma-=hal  of  Minnesota. 


J. 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  STATE  BUILDING  CODE. 

Mr.  Nettleton:  In  submitting  to  the  Association  the  report 
of  your  Committee  on  State  Building  Code,  it  is  our  desire  at 
the  outset  to  assure  you  gentlemen  that  we  very  early  realized 
the  enormity  of  the  task  and  the  importance  of  the  duty  that 
had  been  assigned  to  us.  The  committee  further  appreciates  the 
fact  that  its  membership  was  not  selected  because  of  its  engi- 
neering skill  or  expertness  on  standards  or  building  construction, 
and  as  the  committee  made  progress  it  continued  in  its  apprecia- 
tion of  its  invifficiency.  We  hold  the  opinion,  however,  that  after 
the  exhaustive  study  and  research  made  during  its  progress,  thai 

41 


Pr^fn''"?''-  '^'"'  "'"  ^'''P°"»™^"t  of  the  committee  bv  vour 
PreMdent  n  orgam^e.l  and  held  six  meetin^^s.  at  which  were 
present  Messrs.  Friedle, .  Camber.  Kubasta  and  XetUeton 

Due  notice  was  given  by  the  Chairman  uf  meetings  to  all  of 
the  membership  thereof.  ,  '"^^cim^s  to  all  ol 

Realizing  that  the  work  before  the  committee  was  one  of 
f,'reat   .mportance.  it   invited  attendance  on   behalf  of  such  or 
gan.zat.ons  and  individuals  as   would   be  best  able   to  gi   e  Z 
pert  advice  and  counsel.  ^ 

The  committee  at  first  held  to  the  .pinion  that  a  uniforn, 
code  m.ght  be  prepared  which  woul.l  be  suitable  to  citie>    dif- 
erent,at„,g    ,„    p.,pu,ati.,„    and    in    building   construction.' and 
the  eby  preparing  a  code  to  be  divided  in  three  sections  anpli 
cable  to  three  classes  of  towns,  to-wit :  '^ 

Towns  vi  .").()()(i  and  less; 

Five  thousand  to  20,000  ; 

Twenty  thou.sand  and  over. 
_        However,    after    considerable    discussion    this    was    deemed 

IhatT^n^  :'  T  ''"■  """""^"^  '">'"''-  "'  ^'-'  —iuee 
Wher  T"  "''■'.  '"  '"  ^"'"""^  °'  ^■'^■^•^  '-  •■ecommende.l 
Where  the  recommendations  of  the  committee  do  n,.t  meet  the 
requirements  of  larger  cities,  such  cities  couhl  bv  adopting 
recommendations  of  the  committee  and  adding  to  'the  same,  meet 
their  individual  requirements.  Such  action  has  alrcadv  been  ta- 
ken on  the  part  o.  such  cities  as  Chicag,,.  Milwaukee.' .Minneap- 
^d*  'V  r  ,r'  "'■''">■  .'^^''--^  -here  a  more  drastic  and  detai  i 
code  affected  by  conditions  is  require,!  by  or.linances  u.uler  the 
supervision  of  local  building  inspectors. 

In  submitting  our  recommendations  of  the  co.le.  we  be-  to 
state  that  the  committee  gave  consideration  to  the  several  build- 
ing codes  new  in  use  and  operation,  and  it  was  the  unanimous 
opinion  not  only  of  the  committee,  but  of  the  architects  and  en- 
gineers who  appeare<l  before  the  committee,  that  the  most  com- 
plete, effective  and  applicable  code  at  present  in  operation  was 
he  code  prepared  and  adopted  by  the  Industrial  Commission  of 
VVisconsm. 

Therefore,  the  committee  recommends  that  the  Wisconsin 
code  be  adopte<l  by  the  ].-ire  Marshals'  .Association  of  Vori" 
America  as  a  base,  and  submits  for  your  consideration  and  crit- 
.csm  a  copy  ,„  the  alnne  code,  with  the  alterations  and  amend- 

42 


4 

3 


ments  siiggcsted  by  the  committee.    For  convenient  reference  the 
order  numbers  of  the  original  code  have  been  retained. 

The  committee  would  also  recommend  that  after  adoption 
of  the  code  it  be  made  operative  not  through  statutorv  provi- 
sion, but  that  the  statute  delegate  jurisdiction  and  authority  for 
the  enforcement  of  such  code  to  some  commission  or  depart- 
ment, preferably  the  Fire  Marshals'  department,  and  that  such 
authority  might  be  in  the  following  language: 

"It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  department  or  commis- 
sion, and  it  shall  have  full  power,  jurisdiction  and  au- 
thority to  ascertain,  fi.x  and  order  such  reasonable  stand- 
ards, rules  or  regulations  for  the  construction,  repair  and 
maintenance  of  places  of  employment  and  public  build- 
ings as  shall  render  them  safe." 

It  further  reci>mmcnds  where  it  is  impossible  to  secure  such 
legislation  as  is  necessary  to  make  the  code  submitted  effective 
in  any  particular  state,  that  the  Fire  Marshal  t.f  that  state  use 
the  code  "s  a  guide  in  arriving  at  certain  standards  which  the 
Fire  Marshal  may  be  called  upon  to  establish,  and  in  this  way 
the  code  if  adopted  by  the  .\ssociation  will  in  a  measure  even- 
tually become  recognized  as  standard. 

The  comittee  wishes  to  e.xpress  its  appreciation  and  extend 
Its  most  hearty  thanks  to  the  Industrial  Commission  of  Wiscon- 
sin for  its  courteous  co-operation  and  to  Messrs.  Ira  H.  Wool- 
son,  Consulting  Engineer,  Xational  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters; 
William  S.  Boyd,  Electrical  Division.  Xational  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters :  F.  E.  Davidson,  Consulting  Architect,  represent- 
ing the  .American  Institute  of  Architects:  S.  J.  Williams,  repre- 
senting the  Xational  Safety  Council;  H.  B.  Wheelock.  of  Whee- 
lock  &  Shank.  Architects,  Chicago;  E.  R.  Townsend,  of  the 
Western  Engineering  I'.ureau,  Ciiicago.  for  their  valuable  ad- 
vice and  counsel. 

The  committee  has  had  submitted  to  it  and  had  under  con- 
sideration certain  recommendations,  among  which  are  the  find- 
ings of  the  Building  Material  Division  of  the  War  Industries 
Board.  These  suggestions  are  valuable,  but  have  not  been  in- 
cluded in  our  recommendations  for  the  reason,  that  it  was  the  de- 
sire of  the  committee  to  first  secure  something  tangible  in  the 
way  of  a  proposed  code,  and  that  such  code  can  be  amended  dur- 
ing the  coming  year  through  your  new  committee. 

Your  committee  further  recommends  that  suitable  and  pro- 
per ordinances  be  adopted  by  cities  and  villages  providing  for 

43 


fitLn'"i'''  """  •^°";^*'-"^-»'°"  ^"'»  equipment  of  buildings    reffu- 
Cleanliness  of  alleys  and   the  burnirp-  of  rftn*^      »  t 

1-  re  froectin  Association,  edition  of  December.  1<)13  For 
Z  T.  "^'^  "^  ^"^^"  P°P"'ation.  reference  is  made  to 
L%r  >"  "r"""^  "^  ''■^'^^^  ''>■  ^'-  ''^'^^--'  Hoard  of  Fie 
o^d?nan"e     "'       T"  "'  "''•     ^""'^  ^"^  ^"  "^  ^^^  suggested 

:^t::::u^;i^;:;- •-  ---^^  --•  -ended  an!^.f;: 

In  submitting  this  report  and  the  tentative  draft  of  the  code 
•our  committee  begs  leave  to  state  that  it  has  no  nclu^ed 
therem  provisions  relative  to  sanitation,  ventilation  or  igting 
These  subjects  have  not  been  omitted  as  non-essential  but 
have  not  been  touched  upon  for  the  reason  that  it  was  deemed 
advisable  to  first  mark  progress  as  to  a  code  providTng  forTelr 
ulation,s  as  to  building  construction  from  a  fire  hazard  3 
sa  ety  standpoint    and  further,  because  in   man;  o      he  state 

ficL^r  "'■'  '"1'^^^^  "^^'^'^  department  are  no  luf 

f.c.ently  conjunctive.     This  is  a  matter  which  we  trust  vvill  re 
ceive  discussion  and  attention  at  the  hands  of  this  convenUon 

In  conclusion  the  committee  wishes  to  again  place  oartic 
ular  emphasis  on  the  fact  that  it  feels  that  th'e  code  submi      d 
i^  far  from  perfect,  and  that  the  work  of  the  commitfrK 
s^dered  only  as  a  beginning  and  a  foundation  as  to"  rUinLr 

tt";:;im  t^  TT^'  ^^"  '^  ^"'^^^^^  "P-  and^mp  "0;:^;; 
the  committee  for  the  ensuing  year.  ^ 

Respectfully  submitted, 

GEORGE  H.  NETTLETON 
JNO.  G.  GA.MBER 
F.  W.  KUBASTA, 
H.  H.  FRIEDLEY. 
In  connection  with  this  report.  I  wish  to  say  that  while  the 
ommmee  has  not  accomplished  what  we  hop  d  w     wou  d    , 
lot  of  hard  work  has  been  done,  as  will  undoubtedly  be  reafz'ed 
when  the  discussion  on  the  code  takes  place. 

I  would  like  to  move  that  a  special  time  be  set  for  a  hear 
>ng  on  this  code  during  this  convention. 
Mr.  Foster:    I  second  that  motion. 

President  Fleming:     You   have   heard   the   report  bv  tb. 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on,  the  State  Building  Code'  and 

44 


also  the  motion  made.     What  is  your  pleasure?     (Motion  car- 
ried.) 

I  think  you  will  agree  that  we  owe  Mr.  Xettlcton  and  his 
committee  a  special  vote  of  appreciation  for  the  splendid  work 
they  have  accomplished  so'  far.  I  do  not  know  of  any  commit- 
tee which  was  more  active  throughout  the  entire  ;  ^ar  than  the 
Committee  on  the  State  Building  Code. 

I  am  going  to  ask  Xfr.  Xettleton,  as  the  Chairman  of  thai 
committe«%  to  choose  a  time  for  the  hearing  on  the  code,  and 
any  of  those  who  have  not  had  a  copy  of  the  Wisconsin  build- 
ing code  should  secure  one  at  the  desk  and  look  it  through.  If 
you  will  let  me  know  a  little  later,  Mr.  Xettleton,  the  time  you 
select  for  the  hearing,  I  am  sure  we  can  call  upon  Mr.  Booth, 
the  National  Board's  engineer,  to  help  us. 

The  next  order  of  business  will  be  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Standard  Hose  Couplings.  Mr.  John  S.  U  .-an,  Fire 
Marshal  of  West  Virginia,  is  the  Chairman  of  that  committee. 

Mr.  Horan:  It  was  deemed  impracticable  to  secure  a  meet- 
ing of  the  committee  prior  to  the  assembling  of  the  convention  at 
Toronto,  and  for  that  reason  I  have  requested  that  the  matter 
be  allowed  to  go  over  for  a  short  time. 

President  Fleming:  We  shall  be  glad  to  receive  your  re- 
port at  a  future  time. 

The  next  order  of  business  is  the  appointment  of  special  com- 
mittees, and  these  committees  will  be  announced  just  before  the 
noon  adjournment. 

W^e  will  pass  now  to  the  next  division  of  our  work : 


CO-OPERATING  AGENCIES  IN  FIRE  PREVENTION. 

The  first  item  under  this  heading  is :  "The  Active  Agencv  in 
Eliminating  Fire  Waste,"  by  Mr.  W.  A.  McSvvain,  State  Fire 
Marshal  of  South  Carolina.  As  Mr.  McSwain  is  unable  to  be 
present,  Mr.  Anderson  of  the  Illinois  department  has  kindly  un- 
dertaken to  present  the  paper. 


THE  ACTIVE  AGENCY  IN  ELIMINATING  FIRE  WASTE. 

Mr.  Anderson:  In  discussing  the  topic  "The  Active  .Agency 
in  Eliminating  Fire  Waste,"  if  I  am  obliged  to  follow  the  defi- 
nite idea  suggested  and  point  out  the  single  active  agency  in 
this  proposition,  I  find  myself  in  the  position  of  the  negro  ap- 
plicant for  a  position  as  letter  carrier  in  his  local  post  office. 

45 


il 


ful  saving  that  I-.s  i.e.-n  •.  '^c  Marshal  knows  the  wonder- 

•»■  fire  i^.u;Mi:;;  ^  ::::;;i;:^'r  Tr"'  '''->■  '^- 

to  retard  the  i.urnin^     f  the    ",•;;''  ?""  V'  """^^  ^'^"''^P^^ 
are  beinjr  improved  in  m-.     .  ''""'';     ^"'-•^'  '•""♦^  departments 

yice  kn.!;.n  t^t^rm;;.  r  f';::^:!^;;;:'-',^'^"  ^^^^'  ''■ 

in  order  thai  their  e/f„rr    , .  ,  uSi'lniB  enBmecrs 

Ihc    ituation     eLhn '    .  "  'l"'  '""   ''"'■  ""mindful  „f 

.-.ccd  in...  i";Jt:  i'^r;,  .""irr.r'^:"""''""  "="  »"■ 

which  have  fur  their  ™,i..  •'"'!   "tiler  preventive  measurei 

property,  hi    J^"  a  h    '   "rr.;  llf '•'""•"■"«  '"  ">-  and 
-nniilion,  after  than  helW  "  '  ""■"""?  "'"''"^  •<■ 

•o  the  situation!     M„„'  eertainlv  e,    ,    ^  '"°'"'  ""■  '^"" 

of  this^eat  e„u„tr/:/re;r;v.;;:::,:- re;",,^"<;H:r'' 
;rrj;r  rr  ;:;;■;:,----.<-"=  :;r  ifr  ia',^t 

these  oce„rr,„ce,:  'duTiV  tr^e Tisu'r:  ^^^h"  '"'  """"  °' 
of  the  eontinent  and  the  lack  „fpr„per  ,^t  "e  t=  XylZ'"  "'" 
tmn  of  the  business  men  of  this  counrr  i       '  '"°''°'" 

a  neiv.spaper  evcept  such  a  ™(  """"{.'^"'-  '"•'  '"y  part  of 
business-    VVh„!  ."»  /efers  to  his  pa'ticular  hobby  or 

.ireX'  dest  :     ^r,"™; oflhi^Ien''  ^"f """"  "'^  ^^°'" 

» '.-  ".i..".c.  L  ..rd"eaiL^;fo7:"rrirvLt:r'S 

46 


home  that  burn«>il'  It  has  been  accurately  ascertained  thit  the 
large-st  proportion  of  the  fires  occurring'  in  this  country  are  due 
to  what  we  term  carelessness,  or,  to  put  it  in  other  wi>r(ls,  after 
a  fire  has  occurred  we  have  determined  that  it  could  have  been 
prevented  by  the  exercise  of  due  diligence  on  the  part  of  the 
owner  or  occupant. 

Our  experience  as  nations  and  as  individuals  during  the  last 
three  years  is  filled  with  examples  worthy  of  our  his^he-i  ci^m- 
mcndation  and  emulation.  We  have  learned  that  we  could  ac- 
complish with  proper  effort  that  which  at  the  first  suggestion 
seemed  impossible.  We  have  to  some  extent  learned  to  practice 
thrift  and  economy.  We  have  done  that  which  our  enemies 
thought  we  could  not  do.  During  the  last  two  years  I'ire  Mar- 
shals have  learned  many  valuable  lessons  and,  as  the  result  of 
.«uch  experience,  many  agencies  have  been  called  into  activity 
for  the  elimination  of  the  fire  waste  of  North  .America. 

One  of  the  mos^  striking  examples  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished in  the  elimination  of  fire  waste  is  found  in  the  expe- 
rience of  the  United  States  government  in  the  housing  problem 
in  co^inection  with  the  World  War.  Our  government  found  it 
necessary  to  build  many  communities  entirely  of  frame  construc- 
tion, to  be  occupied  as  dwellings  and  dormitories.  These  build- 
ings were  occupied  largely  by  men  from  every  section  of  the 
country.  The  occupancy  of  these  frame  dwelling  cities  ranged 
in  population  from  iiO,(Hi()  men  dow  <nd  each  such  building  in 
these  cities  was  equal  in  hazard  to  .  n  of  a  frame  hotel.  The 
frame  hotel  is  regarded  by  fire  underwriters  as  especially  haz- 
ardous. In  many  instances  insurance  companies  decline  to  ac- 
cept liability  on  frame  hotels,  so  that  we  find  the  government  in 
this  comparison  confronted  with  what  is  known  in  underwriting 
circles  as  a  special  hazard.  Yet,  without  automatic  sprinklers, 
and  in  many  known  cases  without  adequate  water  supply,  the 
actual  lor-,  of  property  in  connection  with  this  class  of  risk  has 
been  practically  nothing. 

What  lesson  do  we  learn  from  this  experience  of  our  gov- 
ernment? (We  appreciate  that  this  is  hardly  a  fair  comparison, 
but  the  fact  emphasizes  the  lesson  that  we  wish  to  impress). 
It  is  that  if  there  is  one  agency  more  active  than  another  in 
eliminating  fire  waste  it  is  that  of  careful  and  systematic  in- 
spections with  prompt  removal  of  any  condition  found  to  be 
unsatisfactory.  Of  course  the  government  by  reason  or  it-  mil- 
itary organization  was  able  to  exercise  a  more  rigid  system 
than  could  probably  be  made  effective  in  civil  life :  at  the  same 

47 


time.  ,t  should  c.iunu-e  us  that  this  is  the  UKt-ncv  that  we  <houl.l 
encourage  and  emphasize  as  the  most  desirable  means  for  cur- 
taihn^  fire  waste.     'ITie  city  of  Charleston.  S.  C.  has  for  many 
years  enjoyed  a  most  favorable  record  with  respect  to  the  fire 
waste,  due  in  no  small  decree,  if  not  entirely,  to  the  activity  of 
the  Chief  ,.f  its  I-irc  dt-partnicnt.  who  has  ^'i'ven  forty-two  vears 
of  his  life  to  this  department  and  has  made  the  matter  of  fire 
prevention  his  main  study.     His  e.xplanati<.n  of  the  record  made 
for  the  city  in   which   he  lives  is  a  system  ot   careful  and   sys- 
tematic inspection  i.f  buildinps.  with  prompt  removal  of  all  con- 
ditions found  to  be  unsatisfactory.     The  value  of  inspections  in 
the  matter  of  eliminating,'  fire  waste  is  further  evidenced  by  the 
activity  of  Fire  Marshals  in  many  states  and  provinces  of  this 
continent  in   inauj-uratinK'  campaigns  for  cleaning,'  up  and  en- 
couratjinj,'  good  housekeeping,  but  devoting  to  this  work  any- 
where from  one  day  to.  one  week  in  the  vear.    Of  course  one  day 
a  year  devoted  to  this  work  is  better  than  none,  but  two  days  is 
much  better  and  one  inspection  a  month  highly  desirable,  vvhile 
an  inspection  of  his  own  property  by  each   itulividual  at  least 
once  every  day  is  the  most  desirable  of  all  and  w.>uld  accom- 
plish the  best  results.     The  value  of  such  work  is  recognized 
by  state  and  municipal  governments  in  providing  and  enacting 
laws   which    hive   for   their   main   purpose   the   safeguarding  of 
lives  and  property  against  the  ravages  of  fire  waste,  vet  all  reg- 
ulations up  to  this   time  seem   to  be   lacking  in   respect   to  the 
great  importance  of  frequency  in  such  inspections. 

The  agency  I  have  briefly  referred  to  needs  to  be  improved, 
and  that  I  believe  l)y  arousing  public  .sentiment  to  the  point 
where  we  are  able  to  bring  to  the  attention  of  everv  citizen 
of  North  America  the  necessity  of  the  situation  as  we  .see  it,  and 
we  think  it  is  perfectly  safe  to  assume  that  every  citizen,  and 
more  especially  those  who.  are  property  owners,  whose  prop- 
erty is  subject  to  destruction  by  fire,  is  willing  and  even  anx- 
ious to  co-operate  to  protect  himself  from  the  ravages  of  fire 
when  the  matter  is  brought  to  his  attention  in  the  proper  light 
and  with  sufficient  frequency  until  the  lesson  is  indelibly  Tm- 
pressed.  I  am  also  convinced  that  the  masses  of  our  people 
must  be  aroused  along  this  line  in  order  that  we  may  have  will- 
ing and  active  co-operation  to  obtain  the  results  desired.  How 
to  go  about  such  a  campaign  for  arousing  public  sentiment  in 
favor  of  the  elimination  of  fire  waste  is  the  question. 

In  looking  over  the   fires  occurring  in   the  United  States 
in  1917  we  find  that  li.V-   of  them  started  in  the  homes  of  the 

48 


I    -^r~« 


country.  In  other  words,  out  of  a  total  number  of  ;i:)(l.»!)G  fires 
occurring'  in  1!)K.  tlie  numliir  of  fires  originating  in  dwelling 
houses  was  2.12, i^ii.  Now.  since  we  know  that  so  large  a  pro- 
portion of  the  fires  start  in  the  homes  of  the  country,  is  not  this 
a  splendid  opportunity  to  enlist  the  mothers  and  children  in  this 
great  agency  <jf  eliminating  the  tire  waste  hy  careful  and  fre- 
quent inspections  with  prompt  removal  of  any  unsatisfactory 
condition?  Can  yiiu  imagine  a  more  fertile  field?  Every  mother 
is  interested  in  the  life  and  welfare  of  her  children,  every  wife  i-. 
mterested  in  safc^'uarduin;  her  home,  the  children  arc  equally 
interested  in  anythinK:  tiiat  interests  the  mother.  If  we  can 
arouse  the  mothers  and  children  and  housekeepers  of  this  coun- 
try to  an  active  cami)aign  against  lire  waste,  it  is  clear  that  we 
will  reach  C,")'.  of  the  places  where  fires  begin.  1  believe  that 
next  to  the  fireside  the  best  avenue  through  which  we  may  reach 
the  mothers  and  children  is  the  public  sciiools  of  the  country. 
If  the  school  officials  and  teachers  throughout  this  great  conti- 
nent had  this  great  question  well  fi.xed  in  their  minds  and 
hearts,  and  in  turn  imparted  it  to  those  intrusted  to  them  for 
training,  such  an  agency  would  arouse  a  public  sentiment  that 
would  be  irresistilile  in  its  force. 

When  the  sober,  constructive  thinking  peojjle  of  this  coun- 
try agreed  that  Jolui  Barleycorn  had  wrecked  enougli  lives,  a 
movement  was  immediately  started  to  arouse  public  sentiment 
against  its  ravages  to  the  e.xtent  that  in  a  remarkably  short 
space  of  time  there  was  scarcely  to  be  found  in  all  this  broad 
land  a  man,  woman,  or  child,  that  did  not  know  of  the  campaign 
that  was  being  waged  to  put  the  demon  rum  out  of  business. 
V\  hat  do  you  think  of  such  a  campaign  as  an  e.xample  of  what 
should  be  done  with  respect  to  the  fire  waste  of  this  country  ? 
Such  a  campaign  should  receive  the  full  accord  and  co-operation 
of  every  individual.  Surely  there  could  not  be  found  as  many 
friends  for  the  fire  demon  as  was  the  case  with  the  whiskey 
demon.  It  seems  safe  to  assume  that  the  fight  against  unnec- 
essary fires  will  be  easier  and  shorter  if  we  go  about  the  mat- 
ter carefully  and  systematically.  To  inaugurate  such  a  cam- 
paign would  require  careful  study  on  the  part  of  interested  and 
experienced  persons.  It  is  with  much  satisfaction  we  note  that 
ii.  some  states  the  good  women  have  already  taken  this  mat- 
ter in  hand.  The  women  of  North  Carolina  have  organized  for 
the  purpose  of  arousing  the  sentiment  to  which  I  have  referred. 
Sooith  Carolina  is  planning  to  have  the  message  of  fire  pre- 
vention  by   means   of  careful   and   systematic    inspections   car- 

49 


ried  to  every  child  in  the  public  schools,  and  we  hope  that  in 
turn  the  message  may  reach  the  mothers  and  fathers  around 
the  fireside.  To  reach  every-  person  with  this  message  is  an 
enormous  undertaking,  but  it  can  be  done  if  we  go  about  it 
m  the  right  spirit. 

I  am  firmly  owvinced  that  great  publicity  and  co-opera- 
tion along  this  line  will  in  a  very  short  space  of  time  begin  to 
show  results.  I  am  inclined  to  tliink  that  every  Fire  Marshal 
has  done  his  very  best  to  inform  the  citi.-ens  of  his  commu- 
nity in  this  respect,  but  what  seems  to  be  most  desirable  is  that 
the  matter  of  publicity  with  respect  to  arousing  a  sentiment  in 
favor  of  the  elimination  of  fire  waste  be  considered  by  this  con- 
vention and  a  committee  appointed  to  arrange  a  plan  of  pub- 
licity, suggesting  the  literature  to  be  used,  so  that  every  Fire 
Marshal  in  every  state  would  be  using  the  same  message  witii 
the  same  end  in  view,  and  thus  have  it  echoed  from  one  end  of 
the  country  to  the  other,  so  that  it  would  come  to  the  attention 
of  every  citizen.  Every  man,  woman  and  child  would  become 
vitally  interested  and  an  active  agency  in  this  most  important 
work  of  safeguarding  lives  and  preventing  suffering  on  account 
of  the  ravages  of  uncontrolled  fires,  to  say  nothing  of  the  prop- 
erty values  involved. 

To  sum  up.  there  are  many  active  agencies  interested  in 
the  elimination  of  the  fire  waste.  These  agencies  have  been 
successful  in  reducing  the  fire  waste  to  some  extent,  yet  there 
is  need  of  a  much  greater,  stronger  force.  Such  a  force  seems 
to  be  the  arousing  of  public  sentiment  to  such  an  extent  as  will 
insure  the  co-operation  of  every  individual  in  the  matter  of  care- 
ful and  systematic  inspection  for  the  purpose  of  eliminating 
careless  fires.  Such  a  public  sentiment  can  onlv  come  as  a  re- 
sult of  a  careful  and  systematic  educational  campaign  conducted 
by  those  who  have  been  trained  in  the  matter  of  preventing  fires. 

President  Fleming:  1  will  now  call  upon  Mr.  H.  H.  Fried- 
ley.  State  Fire  Marshal  of  Indiana,  to  lead  the  discussion  on  this 
most  excellent  paper. 


DISCUSSION. 


Mr.  Friedley:  Mr.  President  and  members  of  this  Asso- 
ciation: I  would  like  to  take  just  a  moment  to  emphasize  one 
or  two  points  made  in  the  splendid  paper  read  by  Mr.  Anderson. 
One  is  the  question  of  better  building.  As  an  illustration  -ood 
building  and  bad  building.  I  would  like  to  mention  that  i.  year 

SO 


T.iOii  I  was  sent  to  San  FranciscD  to  adjust  insurance  losses  for 
the  North  American  Life  Insurance  Company  and  while  in  that 
then  stricken  city  I  found  that  the  government  buildings,  which 
were  liuilt  properly,  had  survived  the  catastrophe  without  a 
crack  in  win<lows  or  walls,  while  just  across  the  corner  the  San 
I'rancisco  city  hall,  which  had  been  built  by  lalK>r  unions  and 
graft — I  am  not  saying  this  disrespectfully  to  labor  unions — 
fell  down  until  there  was  not  one  brick  left  upon  another.  The 
t^dvernmeiit  suffered  no  loss  either  by  water  or  bv  fire  in  any  gov- 
ernment building  in  the  city  of  San  h'rancisco.  In  fact,  I  do  not 
think  there  was  .$5,0(tO  loss  in  any  of  the  immense  buildings 
erected  by  the  United  States  government  and  the  immunity 
which  those  buildings  enjoyed  was  solely  due  to  the  fact  that 
they  had  been  properly  constructed. 

I  do  not  tliink  the  Fire  Marshals  of  the  L'nited  States  and 
Canada  can  further  the  interests  of  fire  prevention  more  effec- 
tively than  by  insisting  that  architects,  builders,  contractors  and 
owners  build  their  buildings  in  the  future  better  than  they  have 
in  the  past.  I  would  ask  the  members  of  this  Association  who 
are  interested  to  visit  the  old  custom  house  building,  situated 
at  the  southwest  corner  of  Yonge  and  Front  streets  in  this  city, 
and  examine  the  construction  of  that  buildin,g,  which  is  now  in 
process  of  demolition.  I  think  they  will  find  that  that  old  build- 
ing is  better  built  than  many  of  the  private  buildings  that  have 
been  built  in  this  city  since  that  time.  It  is  by  the  enforcement 
of  proper  building  construction  that  the  lessening  of  fire  haz- 
ards is  obtained. 

Another  important  point  is  the  inspection  of  risks.  There 
can  be  no  better  inspection  in  our  ordinary  cities  than  that  made 
by  the  I-'ire  department.  1  believe  that  when  a  fireman  is  em- 
ployed to  fight  fires  he  should  at  the  same  time  be  charged 
with  the  duty  of  preventing  fires  as  mt  ,;  as  possible  instead  of 
sitting  around  the  fire  house  waiting  for  a  call  to  go  and  put 
a  fire  out.  What  is  being  done  in  our  fire-fighting  depart- 
ments now?  Let  us  get  down  to  practical  Fire  department 
politics,  if  }-ou  wish,  and  what  is  the  usual  result?  When  the 
appointing  power  changes  the  F'ire  Chief  usually  changes  un- 
less the  latter  is  an  extraordinarily  strong  man.  The  politi- 
cians who  have  been  instrumental  in  putting  the  Mayor  in  of- 
fice get  busy  and  try  to  get  their  friends  into  the  Fire  de- 
partment, and  they  sit  around  and  wait  for  a  fire  instead  of 
going  out  every  day  inspecting  and  cleaning  up  the  city  and 
putting  it  in  a  proper  condition  to  prevent  the  outbreak  of  fires, 

51 


I 


are  daily  inspecting  risks  fn  tin    Jn'^  /u  es'    l!;""  '"'  "'" 
to  them  in  a  way  that  will  nlnLt  f"'^,"^'^"-     ^^^  "s  get  closer 

but  just  there  i.  Jh         T  ^  ''^'"''^>'  °^  ""^  company." 

sesses  as  a  state  offirlal  ,„  h  "Hatever  power  he  pos- 

interests  is  ^zoz^'Tj^  ::z:rzr''^  "r  '""■""" 

.he  high  standard  set  h,  the  LIi:.;,  Board  '  '""°'"' 

n>^^tZ  r^fed,;:  'on;:,^,*"  "  "-'  ""^-'  '^^^ 

Mars'haT':,"^LreL"a^"ttt„71e"d''"■'"°"•^'""'■■" 
Swain's  paper.  continue  the  discussion  on   Mr.   Mc 

no.  feel  in  an,  way  hur't  when  he  hears  the  "^ler""""   """ 
way  for  the  office  to  serve  thTp  op  e  „f  M  °  "'"  ""•  '"'' 

^;'r?n;r:::t■;^""•^^'^"" 

waste.  """""  '^'""P»«"  'Sainst  needless  fire 

.ions^Jhrn'wJre'e-ir.nTdVhr"'"'  ""  ""'"  """'  '-"- 

condemned  .ore  ht.i,.;-^:  '£rj:.:^-:jz,.:^]:;::^ 

52 


a 


I 


in  any  one  year.  In  one  town  of  about  S.OOO  peopl,;  we  condemn- 
ed 40  buildinj^rs  in  one  week.  Many  buildings  have  been  con- 
demned in  the  cities  of  Duluth  and  Minneapolis.  In  the  city  of 
St.  Paul  whole  blocks  have  been  ordered  down  and  the  orders 
complied  with.  But  our  department  has  only  nine  field  men  to 
carry  on  this  work  and  we  have  realized  that  we  cannot  accom- 
plish what  we  hope  to  in  Minne.sota  with  the  small  force,  so 
we  are  or^^anizing  local  fire  prevention  committees  in  every 
tx>wn  of  the  state  with  a  population  of  1,000  or  more.  Our 
object  i-,  to  establish  in  each  town  a  small  group  of  men  who 
will  take  an  active  interest  in  fire  prevention  work.  Such  con- 
mittees  will  be  called  upon  to  make  inspections  once  a  month. 
They  are  furnished  with  inspection  blanks  for  that  purpose  by 
the  department.  These  blanks  are  issued  in  duplicate  and  con- 
tain a  request  for  the  owner  of  the  property  to  clean  up  and 
put  his  premises  in  safe  condition. 

When  we  send  a  man  into  a  town  to  organize  a  commit- 
tee he  first  cabs  upon  the  Mayor  and  the  Fire  Chief,  stating  his 
mission,  after  which,  accompanied  by  the  Fire  Chief,  he  makes 
a  general  inspection  of  the  town  and  later  in  the  day,  if  possi- 
ble, the  City  Council  is  called  together  and  the  plan  is  explained 
to  them  in  order  that  their  support  may  be  obtained. 

Another  object  in  the  creation  of  these  local  fire  preven- 
tion committees  is  to  get  closer  co-operation  between  the  Fire 
departments  and  the  Fire  Marshal's  office.  The  need  of  such  co- 
operation has  been  keenly  felt  for  some  time  as  in  the  past  we 
have  sometimes  asked  a  Fire  Chief  to  inspect  a  risk  or  make  a 
re-inspection  of  one  and  he  would  not  have  the  time  to  look 
after  it. 

By  interesting  local  business  men  in  fire  prevention,  through 
their  influence  we  are  able  to  interest  city  officials  in  providing 
better  equipment  for  the  Fire  department  and  when  we  can 
show  the  Fire  Chief  and  his  men  that  we  are  making  an  effort 
to  improve  conditions  for  them,  we  have  little  trouble  in  se- 
curing their  co-operation. 

Later  on  our  deputies  go  into  a  town  and  make  inspections 
with  the  local  committee  and  in  the  evening  a  fire  prevention 
meeting  is  held  in  the  town  hall. 

We  are  also  going  to  organize  in  September  a  Fire  College 
which  the  Fire  Chiefs  and  firemen  from  throughout  the  state 
will  be  invited  to  attend.  That  will  also  help  to  secure  closer 
co-operation  between  the  Fire  departments  and  the  Fire  Mar- 
shal's office. 

53 


Another  matter  of  importance  is  that  of  publicity.  Mr. 
McSwam  in  his  paper  has  recommended  that  the  various  Fire 
Marshals  work  along  the  same  line  in  publicity  work.  I  think 
this  would  be  a  good  plan  and  believe  that  among  our  standing 
committees  we  should  have  one  to.  be  known  as  the  Commit- 
tee on  Publicity  and  Education. 

The  object  of  this  committee  would  be  to  prepare  articles 
on  various  subjects  pertaining  to  fire  prevention  and  then  send 
out  bulletins  containing  these  articles  to  all  Fire  .Marshals.  In 
this  way  subjects  covering  special  hazards  and  how  1,3  over- 
come them  would  be  given  special  attention  and  in  this  way  we 
would  be  working  together  and  concent.ating  our  efforts  in 
the  matter  of  publicity. 

President  Fleming:     The  next  item  on  the  pr  ,-ram  is  en- 
titled '-Good  Citizenship.-  by  J.   S.  Darst.  Insurance  Commis- 
sioner of  West  Virginia.    I  understand  Mr.  Darst  has  requested 
Mr.  John  S.  Horan.  the  State  Fire  Marshal  of  West  X'irginia 
to  take  care  of  the  paper  for  him. 

GOOD  CITIZENSHIP. 

Mr.  Horan:  Mr.  President,  it  was  at  the  request  of  Mr 
Darst  that  I  attempted  to  prepare  a  short  pa^er  on  the  subject 
assigned  to  him,  and  when  he  made  the  request  I  did  not  an- 
ticipate any  great  difficulty  in  writing  an  article  that  perhaps 
might  be  acceptable.  I  found,  however,  that  it  was  almost  im- 
possible to  cover  such  a  broad  subject  adequately  without  en- 
croaching on  the  rights  of  other  subjects  that  had  been  assigned 
and  It  seemed  necessary  to  confine  it  to  glittering  generalities' 
I  roceedmg  on  that  theory  I  soon  found  that  "  all  that  -litters 
IS  not  gold."  " 

The  subject.  "C.x.d  Citizenship"  is  one  so  broad  in  its  com- 
prehension that  it  can  be  considered  at  this  time  only  in  its 
application  to  matters  for  the  discussion  of  which  we  are  gath- 
ered here  in  this  great  sister  city  of  the  north. 

In  order  that  one  can  be  classed  as  a  good  citizen  perhaps 
the  most  pertinent  query  would  be,  "What  is  his  attitude  to- 
wards his  fellow  man?"  It  is  not  a  question  of  wealth  high 
pub  ic  office  or  popular  acclaim.  The  most  humble  person  may 
qualify  as  a  better  citizen  than  one  whose  path  is  trod  by  those 
high  in  power  and  standing.  Too  often  emphasis  is  placed  upon 
the  rights  of  citizenship  with  no  reference  to  the  duties  neces- 
sarily entailed  therein.     And  i„  addition  to  this  laxity,  in  as- 

54 


serting  their  own  rights,  individuals  are  prone  to  go  a  step  far- 
ther and  encroach  upon  the  rights  of  others.  One  can  be  safe 
in  asserting  that  if  sufficient  regard  is  given  to  the  rights  erf 
others,  both  rights  and  duties  will  form  a  blend  making  a  cit- 
izen who  can  rightly  be  classed  with  Abou  Ben  Adhem  and 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  list. 

Let  us  first  consider  the  man  who  has  no  criminal  tenden- 
cies and  yet  can  not  be  classed  as  a  good  citizen,  although  he 
would  indignantly  refute  such  an  accusation.and  would  no  doubt 
have  the  loyal  support  of  his  friends  and  neighbors  in  the  event 
that  it  was  made.  He  may  be  honest  within  the  strict  interpre- 
tation of  the  term,  liberal  in  charital)le  donations  and  a  kind  and 
thoughtful  husband  and  father.  His  personal  habits  may  be 
above  the  slightest  reproach,  and  in  every  way  be  considered 
of  exemplary  character.  And  }  ct,  unconsciously  perhaps,  he 
has  failed  in  the  crucial  test. 

The  alK)ve  has  reference  to  what  is  generally  considered 
the  most  vital  question  affecting  the  prevention  of  fire:  per- 
sonal responsibility.  When  this  point  is  brought  home  effec- 
tively and  conclusively  by  methods  of  education  and  by  stat- 
utory enactment,  an  immediate  and  wonderful  reduction  in  the 
large  and  unnecessary  fire  waste  in  this  country  will  be  noted. 
No  person  will  permit  a  neighbor  to  keep  a  savage  or  danger- 
ous bull  dog  on  the  premises.  By  the  same  token,  in  the  event 
of  contagious  or  infectious  disease,  a  strict  quarantine  is  main- 
tained and  provided  for  by  law.  Why,  then  should  that  same 
neighbor  permit  a  condition  to  exist  on  his  property  which  not 
only  endangers  your  possessions,  but  the  very  lives  of  your 
loved  ones?  When  this  phase  of  the  situation  is  placed  squarely 
up  to  a  property  owner  where  dangerous  fire  hazards  exist,  nine 
times  out  of  ten  he  heartily  agrees  and  becomes  a  fire  pre- 
vention enthusiast  whose  sincerity  will  not  wear  out. 

It  is  utterly  impossible  of  course,  to  reach  every  one  by  a 
personal  interview.  By  means  of  the  press,  however,  and  other 
channels  of  education  and  information  the  idea  of  personal  re- 
sponsibility can  be  permanently  impressed  upon  the  minds  of 
the  people.  We  are  also  making  an  effort  in  West  Virginia 
to  have  the  subject  "Fire  Prevention"  taught  in  our  public 
schools.  At  the  last  session  of  our  Legislature  when  a  new 
school  code  was  enacted,  we  tried  to  secure  a  provision  making 
it  one  of  the  subjects  to  be  taught.  However,  it  was  thought 
best  by  the  Department  of  Schools  to  handle  this  matter  through 
the  state  hoard  which  prescribes  the  course  oi  study.     We  hope 

55 


to  secure  favorable  action  by  the  board  and  if  this  is  done  a 
very  short  space  of  time  will  demonstrate  the  effectiveness  of 
such  work.  In  order  that  it  will  appeal  to  the  children  compo- 
sitions and  essays  can  be  written  and  prizes  offered  for  the  best 
work.  As  .t  has  well  been  said,  the  children  of  today  are  the 
men  and  women  of  tomorrow.  In  addition  to  improvement  in 
penmanship  spellmg:  and  expression,  they  will  be  fitting  them- 
selves for  the  role  of  good  citizens. 

The  most  effective  demonstration  of  individual   responsi- 

o    InrVJit  '"r    '  "'r  "'  ''"'^■""'*''  O'^'^'  ^"""^  the  month 
of  Apnl.  1919.     From  the  12th  to  the  80th  of  that  month  the 

c.ty  was  wuhout  adequate  fire  protection  on  account  of  a  strike 
m  the  F.re  department.  Warning  was  given  throughout  the 
city  appnsmg  the  citizens  of  the  situation.  So  well  did  each 
nd.v.dual  discharge  his  obligation  and  responsibility  that  for 
the  entire  period  of  eight  days  the  fire  loss  amounted  to  on^y 
.>oOO  as  compared  with  $20,676  for  the  same  week  the  year  pre- 
vious. The  average  daily  fire  loss  had  been  over  $3,000  and  ac- 
a«-d.ng  to  that  ratio  practically  $16,000  was  saved  in  the  city 
by  the  exercise  of  good  citizenship.  ^ 

Insurance  is  indispensable  to  the  success  of  any  bt^siness. 
Credit,  the  foundation  of  business,  is  based  upon  insurance  and 
IS  as  necessary  as  the  breath  of  life.  Let  us  assume,  however,  for 
the  moment  that  all  insurance  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  the  land  was  cancelled.  The  rather  startling  statement  follows 
that  the  fire  loss  would  instantly  be  reduced  by  a  conservative 
estimate  at  least  three-fourths.  I  do  not  refer  to  incendiary 
fires  in  the  assertion  above.  The  insured  may  not  have  a  crim- 
inal intent,  but  his  sense  of  responsibility  is  lulled  to  sleep  by 
the  thought  that  he  will  suffer  no  monetary  loss  by  reason  of 
destruction  of  his  property  by  fire.  Therefore,  it  necessarily 
follows  ihat  personal  responsibility  is  the  key  to  the  situation. 

In  the  investigation  of  fires  of  suspicious  origin  each  year 
sees  added  cooperation  between  the  Fire  Marshal  departments 
and  the  people.  The  expression  when  an  incendiary  fire  for 
profit  occurs,  "He  has  sold  out  to  the  insurance  companies" 
has  now  become  obsolete  and  the  truth  is  known  that  the  in- 
sured has  sold  out  to  the  public.  For  our  fire  waste  is  actually 
paid  in  the  last  analysis  by  the  purchaser  of  merchandise  etc 
to  the  cost  of  which  the  expense  of  insurance  is  added  the  in- 
surance companies  being  merely  distributing  agencies  Our 
citizens  are  becoming  aroused  to  the  fact  that  an  unnecessary 
tire  loss  IS  not  an  individual  misfortune  but  a  public  malfeasance 

56 


■■li 


as  well.  This  point  of  view  has  in  the  last  few  years  been  pre- 
sented broadcast  and  we  may  well  hope  to  reap  the  benefit  in 
good  measure. 

As  an  example  of  indifference  to  matters  of  vital  impor- 
tance. I  desire  to  cite  the  recent  election  held  in  Charleston, 
West  Virginia,  upon  the  question  of  issuing  one  million  dollars 
worth  of  bonds  for  civic  improvement.  As  the  tity  has  only  a 
population  of  some  sixty  thousand,  it  can  readily  be  seen  that 
it  was  a  matter  of  even  greater  importance  to  the  residents  of 
the  city  than  would  be  the  case  if  there  was  a  larger  popula- 
tion. Of  the  total  votes  registered,  less  than  one-fifth  took  the 
trouble  of  going  to  the  polls  and  registering  their  approval  or 
disapproval  of  the  plan.  While  the  issue  carried  by  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  votes  cast,  and  properly  so.  inasmuch  as  it  means 
improvements  for  the  city,  including  additional  fire  equipment, 
this  is  merely  an  instance  in  which  the  people  failed  to  take  an 
interest  where  they  are  directly  concerned.  It  is  lethargy  that 
we  have  to  fight  in  all  cases  affecting  public  interest  rather 
thaw  vicious  interference.  This  is  especially  true  in  arousing 
sufficient  interest  to  make  fire  prevention  effective.  After  all  is 
said  and  done  we  come  back  to  the  fundamental  principles  of 
the  rights  and  duties  of  citizenship.  The  people  must  not  only 
be  aroused  to  the  benefits  derived  from  preventing  unnecessary 
fires,  but  to  their  plain  duty  in  this  respect. 

We  need  feel  but  little  apprehension  for  the  safety  of  our  in- 
stitutions and  ideals  from  our  native  born  citizens.  With  one 
notable  exception  one  of  the  most  remarkable  phases  of  our  na- 
tional life,  and  one  which  has  contributed  so  largely  to  our 
material  welfare,  has  been  the  adaptability  of  citizens  of  for- 
eign born,  parents.  Xot  only  have  they  proven  themselves  amen- 
able to  our  laws  and  customs,  but  the  recent  vital  conflict  has 
shown  conclusively  that  in  their  breasts  burns  a  patriotic  fer- 
vor second  to  none  and  is  a  guarantee  of  our  future  welfare  and 
success.  And  this  is  as  it  should  be.  What  more  could  any  im- 
migrant ask  who  reaches  our  shore,  honestly  seeking  to  better 
his  welfare,  than  the  wonderful  opportunities  presented  to  him. 
The  laws  of  our  country  reach  out  and  envelop  him  with  all 
protecting  arms.  He  does  not  have  to  serve  an  apprenticeship 
and  his  children  have  the  same  rights  as  the  descendants  of 
those  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower. 

I  can  have  no  patience,  however,  with  *hose  who  seek  sanc- 
tuary in  the  new  world,  and  instead  of  taking  advantage  of  the 
new  measure  of  freedom  and  opportunity,  attempt  to  change  lib- 

57 


erty  to  license,  and  bring  chaos  and  ruin  upon  our  fair  land.  They 
can  not  be  sincere  in  their  protestations  of  love  for  their  fellow 
man,  and  in  their  pretense  of  trying  to  better  his  condition.  On 
the  contrary  they  are  usually  imbued  with  selfish,  sinister  mo- 
tives and  in  loosening  unbridled  passions  of  mankind  and  the 
utter  overthrow  of  all  law  and  order,  believing  that  they  them- 
selves will  reap  the  benefit  at  the  expense  of  their  poor  mis- 
guided followers.  These  so-called  leaders  and  propagandists 
are  more  dangerous  than  the  vilest  criminal  paying  for  his  mis- 
deeds surrounded  by  penitentiary  walls.  They  are  guilty  of  the 
lowest  form  of  treason  and  should  be  dealt  with  accordingly  and 
with  the  greatest  possible  dispatch.  In  fact  I  can  conceive  of 
no  greater  punishment  than  to  send  them  back  to  the  land  they 
came  from  and  there  throughout  the  rest  of  their  lives  dwell 
upon  the  great  truth,  that  liberty  always  must  be  based  upon 
self-sacrifice.  In  the  dark  ages  of  the  past,  before  the  com- 
monwealth was  even  considered,  each  man  was  supreme  in  his 
individual  actions,  this  same  point  of  view  being  accepted  by 
all.  Might  was  right,  and  law  and  order  did  not  exist.  The 
very  foundation  of  our  civilization  is  based  upon  the  greatest 
good  to  the  greatest  number.  Each  must  contribute  his  part 
and  relinquish  some  of  this  untramelled  freedom  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  whole  as  a  community. 

President  Fleming:  I  am  sure  there  is  no  subject  of  greater 
importance  in  this  period  of  unrest  than  the  subject  of  good  cit- 
izenship. 

I  have  much  pleasure  in  calling  upon  Mr.  William  M.  Camp- 
bell, State  Fire  Marshal  of  Louisiana,  to  lead  the  discussion  on 
this  paper. 

Secretary  Gamber:    Mr.  Campbell  is  not  present. 
President  Fleming:    Then  I  have  pleasure  in  requesting  Mr. 
Edward  A.  Haggerty  of  Louisiana  to  take  Mr.  Campbell's  place. 


DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Haggerty:  There  is  one  point  in  Mr.  Koran's  paper 
upon  which  I  think  special  emphasis  should  be  placed  in  regard 
to  the  development  of  good  citizenship  and  that  is  education. 

The  fundamental  principle  of  citizenship  is  this:  The  cit- 
izen is  only  a  part  of  the  whole  and  hence  he  cannot  stand  aloof 
and  lead  a  selfish,  independent  life,  but  must  subordinate  his 
riL^hts  and  activities  to  the  common  good  .nnd  cn-nperntc  in  cvcrv 
worthy  enterprise  that  tends  to  promote  that  common  good.   The 


life  of  a  good  citizen,  therefore,  must  he  not  merely  one  of  ap- 
probation, but  of  active  participation  in  the  affairs  common  to 
all.  Government  is  a  co-operative  enter])rise  in  which  each  per- 
son has  rights  and  obligations. 

The  foundation  of  good  citizenship  must  contain  these  three 
elements :  Education,  recognition  of  civic  rights  and  responsi- 
bilities and  industry.  Education,  all  should  admit,  must  take 
precedence  of  all  things  else,  for  it  is  the  lack  of  this  that  con- 
stitutes the  radical  defect  in  our  citizenship.  Education,  com- 
prising as  it  docs  the  training  of  the  two  no])lest  faculties  of  the 
citizen,  his  mind  and  will,  or  the  intellect  and  moral  side  of  his 
character,  prepares  him  for  the  fulfillment  of  the  other  two  re- 
quisites. Without  the  intellectual  development  he  will  lead  an 
animal  life  rather  than  a  reasonable  one  and  without  the  moral 
development  he  will  never  learn  to  recognize  the  rights  of  his 
fellow  citizens  and  his  responsibilities  before  God  and  man. 
One  of  the  most  beneficial  results  of  the  World  War  has  been 
the  revelation  before  the  eyes  of  the  world  of  the  absolute  ne- 
cessity of  education  for  good  citizenship.  The  citizens  who 
contribute  least  to  the  social  uplift  and  do  most  harm  to  the 
community  are  those  who  are  only  poorly  educated  or  not  edu- 
cated at  all.  So,  the  very  first  step  in  promoting  good  citizen- 
ship must  be  one  in  the  direction  of  backing  up  and  furthering 
in  every  possible  manner  the  facilities  for  putting  the  means  of 
education  within  the  reach  of  the  citizen. 

Our  schools  should  be  for  the  training  of  citizenship,  yet 
practically  no  attention  has  been  given  to  the  many  problems 
that  tend  to  social  welfare  except  that  the  pres  int  training  con- 
sists in  the  establishment  of  moral  principles,  but  what  is  needed 
is  definite  instruction  so  that  young  citizens  may  have  a  clearer 
idea  of  what  civic  life  requires  and  a  more  definite  knowledge 
for  the  performance  of  civic  duties.  Th"  great  majority  of  our 
children  leave  school  before  attaining  .ne  higher  grades.  There- 
fore, civic  instruction  should  be  mtroduced  in  the  rudimentary 
classes.  In  these  classes  instructions  should  be  given  in  ques- 
tions of  such  vital  importance  as  fire  prevention.  The  study 
of  fire  prevention  will  contribute  in  a  large  measure  to  good 
citizenship,  for  it  preaches  the  habits  of  thrift  and  the  habits 
of  carefulness. 

United  States  Commissioner  of  Education  Claxton,  in  the 
introductory  of  "Safeguarding  the  Home  Against  Fire,"  says, 
regarding  good  citizenship: 

59 


th..r.  l      ?u        '"""'  *°  '^'  ^""'''""  "f  fi«  prevention, 
there  are  three  mam  pomts  to  consider.     JMrst.  a  pood 
at.zen  w.M  try  n,  every  way  to  avoid  being  a  ^ause^ 
danger  through  permining  any  of  the  practLs  tl.at  w 
have  been  warned  about.     Second,  he  will  remove  all 

and  third,  he  wnl  tram  himself  to  recognize  dangerous 
cond,t,ons  .n  the  community  and  will  uTe  his  infbence 
both  to  have  them  removed,  and  to  educate  others  to 
habits  of  carefulness." 

President  Fleming:    I  will  now  call  upon  Mr.  F.  VV  Kubasta 

;«ss":"„'-.r  ^  '^J^'^-^lf.'  ^^  ^V-onsin.  to  continue  the  d-' 
cussion  on     Good  Citizenship.  ' 

Mr.  Kubasta:     Mr.   President  and  members:     I  assume  I 
have  been  assigned  to  continue  the  discussion  on  this  subTcTbe 
cause  1  hail  from  the  state  of  Wisconsin.     We  know  that  during 
he  pas    few  years  Wisconsin  has  been  somewhat  doubted  and 

will  now  re"d        "'  """"""  '"  '''  ^°^"'  ^^  ^  ^^^"  ^^'^^^  I 

Citizenship  is  what  we  would   make  it  or  have  made  it 

Tot  on'!'"""^"  "  'iT'"  '''''"'  """^^  ^"  -^  his  own  standard 

rs    but^'t     r  '°"t^^  '^  ^^P"^^  °"  ^he  part  of  oth- 

ers   but  a.  to  his  ov      qualifications  for  citizenship.     In  other 
words,  he  should  h'   .elf  mainUin  the  standard  which  he  rl 
quires  of  his  fellow  citizens;  there  is  little  question  but  that  h  s 
own  percemage  of  citizenship  will  be  materially  increased 

There  are  good  citizens  who  realize  the  responsibility  of  cit- 
izenship in  times  of  peace  as  well  as  in  tin.es  of  war.  when  erne  - 
gency  calls  for  our  best.  Disloyalty  can  be  practiced  even  when 
a  crisis  does  not  exist. 

Our  patriotic  forefathers  of  1770  set  a  sundard  of  citizen 
ship  that  all  might  follow.     I  have  been  strongly  inc  in  d    or" 
some  time  to  the  opinion  that  we  of  the  United  States  ha^e  hdd 

!  osc  w  Thf  "f  r^'t  "°  "^'^'^  ''"'  '''''  ""^''  -ent  timt 

uHv  nn^      .     .   taken  the  oath  of  full  naturalization  did   not 

fully  understand  its  obhgations  and  responsibilities.     In  a  part 

his  has  been  the  fault  of  those  to  whom  have  been  delected 

the  authority  of  administering  and  bestowing  such  rights  rfcit 

izenship.    ^ot  long  since,  I  happened  in  thf  office  ofthelk 

ce       Most    '  I      '"'I!  'PP"""^  ^^^^'•'^  '^'  administering  offi- 
cer.   Most  of  the  emphasis  was  placed  on  the  $4.00,  the  income 

60 


i~4* 


of  the  clerk.  Is  not  the  applicant  who  comes  to  us  with  a  limited 
education  very  apt  to  feel  that  the  almi^'hty  dollar  is,  after  all, 
the  most  important  feature  in  citizenship  and  that  he  who  ac- 
quires the  wherewithal  is  the  successful  citizen? 

Then,  too,  there  is  that  class  of  citizen  who  feels  that  the 
savinp  or  accumulation  of  earthly  things  is  above  everything 
regardless  of  cost  to  others.  1  might  refer  you  to  an  instance 
which  occurred  in  the  investigation  of  a  case  through  our  de- 
partment. A  certain,  long,  cadaverous  individual  who  was  rent- 
ing a  farm  and  had  accumulated  some  little  personal  property 
thereon  di.«posed  of  most  of  the  personal  belongings,  after  hav- 
ing first  secured  a  fairly  decent  policy  of  fire  insurance.  He 
then  proceeded  to  burn  the  buildings  about  the  hour  of  midnight. 
Being  an  individual  of  a  saving  disposition  he  walked  a  distance 
of  eleven  miles  and,  after  having  awakened  the  cow  from  her 
slumbers,  milked  her  and  then  prweeded  to  burn  the  barn  and 
the  cow.  This  is  not  what  we  would  call  a  good  citizen  and  to- 
drty  he  is  reposing  in  our  state  penitentiary. 

Citizenship  was  recently  tested  in  the  supreme  conflict  of 
the  ages,  which  was  democracy's  first  concerted  attack  upon 
satrapy  and  peremptory  privilege.  Today  all  those  who  are 
privileged  to  live  within  the  confines  of  this  great  nation,  have 
an  opportunity  of  choosing  one  of  two  classifications  to  which 
they  may  belong — those  who  are  for  the  government  and  those 
who  are  against  the  government.  Loyalty  cannot  be  a  matter 
of  percentage.  One  cannot  be  !)!)',;  loyal.  The  poison  of  dis- 
loyalty is  so  venomous  and  contagious  that  one  must  be  either 
all  red,  white  and  blue,  or  yellow.  The  government  of  the 
United  States  exists  and  has  grown  great  because  of  the  spirit 
of  its  founders  and  its  citizens  in  patriotic  and  loyal  devotion 
to  the  principles  of  liberty  and  freedom.  With  a  half-hearted 
conviction  and  lingering  doubt  of  the  possibility  of  a  self-goiv- 
erning  people,  there  could  have  been  no  United  States.  All  the 
questions  which  led  up  to  the  Civil  War  were  incidental  to  the 
great  over-shadowing  issues  of  whether  this  should  be  and  con- 
tinue a  nation  or  a  mere  confederation  of  states  of  which  there 
could  be  a  withdrawal  at  will.  Men  still  differ  as  to  the  meth- 
ods  and  means,  but  on  that  one  vital  question  the  dividing  line 
is  not  one  of  party  politics.  Except  that  the  issue  has  been  world 
wide,  the  vita!  question  for  us  wa.s  not  so  much  different  in 
the  past  conflict. 

For  a  man  born  in  one  of  the  countries  of  the  central  pow- 
ers, who  having  forsworn  allegiance  to  its  sovereign  and   be- 

61 


t 


come  a  naturalized  Amcrican-and  to  men  of  such  .lescent-this 
cnsis  imposes  a  great  responsibility.  From  such  as  they  must 
come  such  clear  loyalty  and  k.h.,|  citizenship  that  „,.  hatred  mav 
cont.nue  after  th,s  war's  end  a,jfainst  a  people  from  which  they 
derue.l  the.r  ancestry  ,.r  descent,  If  they  have  not.  during  the 
past  cr.s.s  of  the.r  adopted  country,  given  whoie-hearte.l  lo^^ltv. 
there  w.il  grow  among  Americans  a  lasting  doubt  and  suspi- 
cion (  ,cult  to  era<licate  by  argument  or  pleasant  professions 
m  tnuc  of  peace.  If  they  have  failed  in  times  that  have  tried 
American  souls,  they  will  continue  yellow  in  times  of  peace. 

liecoming  an  .Vnu-Hoan.  being  naturalize.!,  forswearing  al- 
legiance to  the  foreign  potentate,  being  accepted  into  the  polit- 
ical brotherhood  of  free  men.  is  not  a  mere  pcrfunctorv  formal- 
ity. It  IS  a  most  serious  change  born  of  conviction  and  highest 
sentiment,  a  ceremony  in  which  men  mutualiv  pledge  to  each 
other  their  lives  and  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor.  Lovaltv 
cannot  be  satisfied  with  half  the  life,  half  the  fortune,  and  half 
the  honor.  It  demands,  if  need  be.  the  whole  life,  the  whole  for- 
tune, and  the  whole  honor,  for  with  less  than  that  American  cit- 
izenship Aould  be  worthless  and  would  have  passed  into  con- 
tempt. 

Every  right  and  privilege  which  wc  have  enjoyed  was  paid 
for  by  human  lives  and  blood  or  bitter  political  contest  Fven 
what  seems  to  many  so  invaluable  a  thing  as  the  free  exer- 
cise to  vote  without  the  imposition  or  requirement  of  anv  spe- 
cial service,  property,  educational,  or  other  qualifications  ex- 
cept tnose  of  age  and  declaration  of  intention  t-  become  a  cit- 
izen, or  of  now  being  a  citizen,  was  most  bitterly  contested. 

Lincoln  defined  the  democracy  to  be  the  government  of  the 
people,  by  the  peo,,le.  for  the  people.    Liberty  and  freedom  were 
first  given  conception  in  the  dreams  of  the  lowly  and  depre.ssed 
\\  hen  President  Wilson  sa.d.  "The  world  must  be  made  safe  for 
democracy,     he  meant  that  everywhere  on   God's  green  earth 
the  inalienable  rights  of  man  to  life,  libertv  and  the  pursuit  of 
happiness  must  be  recognized,    and  that    collectively,  bv    coun- 
tries or  nation-,  they  must  be  conceded  a  voice  in  its  goxernment 
and  the  determination    of    its    form;    that   the  autocratic  one- 
manpower  which  recently  turned  the  world  into  a  bloody  slaugh- 
ter-house  fertile  fields  and  prosperous  cities  into  waste's,  hom^s 
into  desolation,  and  desecrated  women,  must  end.  and  the  gov- 
erning powers  be  made  accountable  to  the  people  to  the  end  that 
peace  and  good  will  may  prevail. 

War  has  recently  scraped  the  minds,  sheared  the  flock,  ex- 

62 


hausted  the  paddocks,  consumed  the  leather,  butchered  the  herds, 
einpticd  the  granaries,  spent  the  chemicals.  \vast<*il  the  genius, 
and  s<iuaiidered  tlie  vitality  that  we  tomorrow  expected  to  use. 
Hungry  foundries  whined  for  labor's  savinj^s  and  (orphan's  pence. 
We  made  cannon  out  of  daily  bread,  starved  the  knife  and  fork 
to  feed  the  gun-  Kach  new  offensive  was  another  tax  collector. 
The  mounting  toll  of  cripples  and  dependents  paled  philan- 
thropy and  the  recordinjj^  angeh  ^liuddered  at  comitifj  trials  of 
-■a  suddenly    resourceless    women.      I'mjjress    quit    hijrhway    build- 

^  inp  to  caption  battle.     The  dollar,  the  hammer,  the  ph)w,  am; 

the  test  tube  were  trench  chum>.  The  most  potent  a.nd  en- 
lightened group  of  people  that  time  knew  pledged  their  prime 
men  and  the  last  groats  of  national  wealth  to  just  ideais,  which 
ideals  were  good  citizenship.  .\nd  those  who  mocked  at  .Amer- 
ica's resources,  .America's  man  power,  have  come  to  know  that 
they  lied  who  swore  the  ages  had  wrought  their  fiber  and  shrunk 
;'  the  measure  of  the  man.     Centurie-  have  not  dulled  the  splen- 

did and  ancient  faith.    Soft  living  has  not  seduced  thi  race.    We 
1  who  could  have  ransomed  all  the  misery  and   lighted  the  last 

I  black   corner  of   the     arth    with   gold   and   zeal   promoted    woe. 

Civilization  might  have  made  sun  ladders  of  the  timbers  in  her 
crucifix  and  yet  these  things  should  sooner  come  to  pass  be- 
cause we  found  it  sweeter  to  endure  a  space  of  grief  and  desola- 
j  tion  rather  than  suffer    iipreme  shame.     History  will  not  count 

the  present  conflict  as  a  loss.  The  world  has  so  gained  in  effi- 
ciency, and  in  the  realization  of  community  power  that  our  chil- 
dren shall  inherit  s^ars  instead  of  scars.  Tliis  was  and  is  good 
citizenship. 

President  Fleming:  .'ow  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Darst.  In- 
surance Commissiiner  of  ^\  tat  Virginia  (to  whom  the  paper  on 
•'Good  Citizenship"  ^vas  ori^^indlly  assigned)  to  say  a  word  or 
two  thereon. 

Mr.  Darst:  Mr.  I'resident  and  members:  The  time 
is  so  short  that  my  detaining  you  is  scarcely  worth  while,  but  I 
would  like  to  say  that  I  think  we  have  had  evidence  of  good 
government  since  we  arrived  in  this  city.  The  wonderful  dec- 
orations everywhere  present  testimony  to  the  fact  that  the  Ca- 
nadians love  their  government  and  their  homes.  There  is  so 
much  one  could  say  about  the  Canadians  and  their  part  in  the 
great  struggle  that  has  recently  been  concluded  that  I  would  not 
attempt  it  at  this  time.  Some  year?  ago  I  undertook  to  convert 
a  Canadian  into  a  United  States  citizen.  We  were  at  Van- 
couver and  hiid  a  special  car,  and  as  we  were  about  to  hitch  the 

63 


offl.  f.^f"ft""  ^"*"  ^  ^^'d.  -'What  a  pity  you  are  not  part 
of  the  Lnited  States.     Is  there  no  way  in  which  you  can  come 

ulrtr,       r"     "'  '"^"^^  ^"'  '-"^^^  ^'  -^  -''h  --h 
surprise  and  said: 

"Why,  Mr.  Darst,  we  have  a  much  better  country  than  the 

people.  \Ve  obey  our  laws  better  than  do  the  people  south  of 
the  hne  obey  the.rs.  \Vhat  i„  the  name  of  God  do  we  want  to 
become  part  of  the  United  States  for?" 

and  LT  '*"''  ''"'f  '  ''"''  J''"'-"^>-^d  through  your  provinces 
and  met  your  people,  and  after  all  there  is  not  much  difference 
between  the  people  on  this  continent,  whether  they  happen  to  be 
Canadians  or  ct.zens  of  the  United  States.  We  are  all  one  great 
tami'y  m  a  truly  great  country. 

President  Fleming:  I  just  want  to  sav  that  one  of  the 
most  important  subjects  for  all  the  officials  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada  to  consider  is  that  of  good  citizenship  and  I  an^  -n 
favor,  speaking  as  a  United  States  citizen,  of  making  the  citi- 
zenship of  our  country  supremely  sacred  and  puttin^j  up  the 
barriers  so  high  that  the  person  who  is  in  our  country  long 
enough  to  become  a  citizen  and  does  not  consider  the  country 
big  enoiigh  and  good  enough  to  line  himself  up  with  should  be 
sent  back  across  the  ocean  on  the  first  scow  available.  I  do  not 
h.nk  any  man  has  a  right  to  citizenship  unless  he  is  big  enough 
to  study  the  constitution  and  the  principles  on  which  our  gov- 
ernment IS  established  and  has  made  himself  familiar  with  the 
language  of  the  nation.  Those  remarks  applv  to  Canada  just 
as  much  as  they  do  to  the  land  below  the  line.  ' 

I  have  now  very  pleasure  in  calling  upon  Mr.  Frank  Lewis. 
Hre   Prevention  Commissioner  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts 
o  present  his  paper  entitled:     "The  Best  Methods  and  Results 
tor  lire  and  Accident  Prevention  Day." 

BEST  METHODS  AND  RESULTS  FOR  FIRE  AND  ACCI- 
DENT PREVENTION  DAY. 

Mr.  Frank  Lewis:  Fire  prevention  work  has  been  carried 
on  for  many  years  throughout  the  countrv,  vet  small  results  were 
obtained  previous  to  1!I12  when  Fire  I'rex'ention  I>ay  was  first 
inaugurated  by  the  Committee  on  Publicity  and  Education  of 
tne  Uf.vtcrn  L  nion  (an  as.sociation  of  tire  insurance  companies). 

The  committee  meeting  that  year  desired  to  establis',  a 
campaign  which  would  spread  over  the  whole  country  and  be 

64 


the  basis  of  a  higher  education  of  the  people  along  this  neglected 
line,  and  it  was  the  opinion  of  the  members  of  the  committee 
that  a  great  need  of  the  day  was  the  emphasis  of  the  value  of 
preventing  fires  and  that  this  emphasis  could  be  obtained  only 
through  publicity.  Consequently,  to  make  the  work  more  sig- 
nificant, a  particular  day  was  set  aside  for  the  purpose  of  giv- 
ing thought  and  consideration  to  the  great  waste  by  fire  and 
appropriately  this  day  was  made  October  !)th  as  the  anniversary 
of  the  great  Chicago  fire  of  1871.  That  year  a  proclamation  was 
issued  by  the  Governor  of  Illinois  on  the  request  of  the  com- 
mittee and  the  day  was  generally  observed  throughout  the  state. 
The  importance  of  such  a  day  was  apparent  to  all  persons  in- 
terested in  fire  prevention  work  and  the  observance  of  the  day 
spread  rapidly  throughout  the  country. 

In  1914,  November  9th  was  proclaimed  by  the  Governor  of 
Massachusetts  as  Fire  Prevention  Day,  as  this  day  was  the  an- 
niversary of  the  great  Boston  fire  of  1872.  The  observance  in 
Massachusetts  that  year  was  confined  to  the  distribution  of  the 
proclamation,  newspaper  publicity  and  a  few  addresses  made 
before  various  social  assemblies.  Likewise,  in  1915  and  191(1, 
November  !»th  was  set  aside  as  Fire  Prevention  Day  by  procla- 
mation of  the  Governor. 

In  1915  Fire  Prevention  Day  followed  closely  on  a  catas- 
trophe which  occurred  in  Peabody.  Massachusetts,  and  which 
was  known  throughout  the  whole  country.  The  loss  of  nineteen 
little  lives  of  school  children  was  enough  to  inflame  the  peo- 
ple into  demanding  the  better  protection  of  scIukiI  houses  for 
their  children  and  practically  the  entire  work  of  Fire  Preven- 
tion Day  was  concentrated  on  the  effort  to  procure,  through  leg- 
islation or  otherwise,  an  improvement  in  the  condition  of  school 
houses  through  the  state.  The  meeting,  to  which  all  Mayors, 
Building  Commissioners  and  Fire  Chiefs  oi  the  state  were  in- 
vited, also  arcliitccts,  engineers  and  other  experts,  was  called 
together  by  the  (■dvernor  at  l'"anueil  Mall  on  November  9th  and 
a  committee  was  appointed  to  investigate  and  recommend  to 
the  Legislature  whatever  changes  in  the  building  laws  were 
necessary  to  make  the  sch(H)l  houses  safe.  It  is  evident  that 
a  committee  selected  by  representatives  of  the  people  upon  such 
an  occasion  must  necessarily  carry  considerable  weight  in  pro- 
tlucing  results.  This  committee,  after  several  meetings,  drew 
up  a  minimum  code  with  proposed  legislation  and  't  was  dis- 
tributed through  the  department  of  the  Fire  Prevention  Com- 
missioner throughout  the  state  of  Massachusetts  and,  in   fa>.t. 

65 


upon  request  in  many  other  states  and  in  foreign  countries 
AlthouRh  as  yet  no  direct  legislation  on  the  subject  has  been 
enacted  by  the  Legislature,  each  city  and  town  has.  through  its 
local  officials,  succeeded  in  carrying  out  manv  of  the  recom- 
mendations adopted  by  the  committee  and  the' improvement  in 
the  conditions  of  schools  throughout  the  Metropolitan  district  is 
very  marked.  For  instance,  in  one  citv  the  basement  of  every 
school  house  has  been  equipped  with  automatic  sprinklers. 

In  1916  the  work  of  Fire  Prevention  Day  was  concentrated 
on  the  subject  of  the  better  protection  of  heating  plants  in  dwell- 
ings, factories  and  other  places  and  statistics  are  bound  to  show 
the  results  of  such  a  concerted  effort. 

In  1917,  to  conform  with  the  action  of  other  states,  Massa- 
chusetts adopted  October  9th  as  Fire  Prevention!  Day  and  in  the 
future  will  co-operate  with  the  other  states  in  every  way  pos- 
sible.    The  great  demand  in  1917  seemed  to  be  for  the  preser- 
vation ot  the  food,  clothing  and  fuel  supplies  which  were  stored 
m   the  state  so  that   the   United   States   would   not  he  embar- 
rassed in  any  way  by  the  loss  of  necessities.     Fire  Prevention 
Day  in  1917  was.  therefore,  devoted  toward  the  protection  of 
warehouses  where  such   supplies,  and   raw  materials  for  such 
were  stored,  and  it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  n,,  fire  of  any 
considerable  size  has  occurred  in  such   warehouses   from   that 
time  to  date  within  the  Metropolitan  district  where  the  work 
of  fire  prevention  has  been  carried  on  under  direct  supervision 
of  the  Fire  Prevention  Commissioner. 

I  feel  that  the  business  of  the  members  of  this  organization 
IS  fire  prevention  and  the  detection  of  persons  guilty  of  incen- 
diarism.     Fire   prevention    is   a   particubrlv   large   subject   and 
one  to  which  any  man,  no  matter  how  able  he  mav  ■  -   must  de- 
vote his  entire  time  and  best  talents  to  obtain  results.     To  my 
mind  It  has  always  been  a  serious  mistake  to  observe  Fire  Pre- 
vention Day  and  Accident   Prevention  Day  at  the  same  time 
Ihe  subject  of  fire  prevention  is  sufficiently  great  to  be  given 
observance  upon  a  separate  day  from  that  of  accident  preven- 
tion.    I  hose  who  favor  the  observance  of  fire  prevention  and  ac- 
cident prevention  upon  the  same  day  use  the  argument  that  there 
IS  'unity  m  strength."    The  union  of  accident  and  fire  prevention 
was  probably  due  to  the  anticipated  impetus  the  combination 
would  present,  but  the  subjects  are  so  bi;r  and  the  methods  nf  at- 
tack so  dittereut  that  it  is  probable  that  far  better  results  would 
be  obtained  by  separate  treatment  and  at  different  time;*. 

66 


Fire  Prevention  Day  last  year  was  observed  in  Massachu- 
setts as  Fire  and  Accident  Prevention  Day.  The  greater  part 
of  the  work  done  by  the  Fire  Prevention  Commissioner  was 
along  the  lines  of  fire  prevention.  This  work,  I  believe,  was 
effective  and  consisted  of  publicity  and  educational  work,  as 
follows : 

I  obtained  permission  from  Mr.  Burleson,  Postmaster  Gen- 
eral and  Director  of  Wires,  to  place  upon  every  telephone  and 
telegraph  pole  in  the  Metropolitan  district  a  placard  10x12  print- 
ed in  red  and  black  containing  the  statement  of  President  Wood- 
row  Wilson  regarding  "preventable  fire,"  etc.,  together  with 
certain  other  fire  prevention  statements.  Ninety-five  thousand 
of  these  placards  were  posted  in  the  Metropolitan  district  by  the 
firemen  without  expense  to  the  state,  the  only  expense  being 
the  printing  of  them,  which  was  a  small  item.  The  power  of 
these  circulars.  I  believe,  was  due  to  the  fact  that  they  were  so 
promiscuously  displayed  that  they  were  brought  to  the  attention 
of  every  one  in  the  district.  I  impressed  particularly  ujxin  the 
Fire  Chiefs  of  the  cities  and  towns  that  no  telephone  or  tele- 
graph pole  be  missed.  These  placards  were  posted  about  one 
week  before  Fire  Prevention  Day  and  I  think  the  effect  was  of 
sufficient  value  to  warrant  our  attempting  the  same  procedure 
this  year. 

.\  letter  was  sent  to  every  clergyman  in  the  Metropolitan 
district  calling  attention  to  the  importance  of  fire  prevention 
and  stating  that  I  thought  it  would  be  particularly  effective  if 
they  would,  ujxjn  the  Sunday  prior  to  Fire  Prevention  Day, 
preach  a  special  sermon  on  fire  prevention.  In  these  letters 
was  enclosed  fire  prevention  literature  that  v\x>uld  aid  them  in 
preparing  such  a  sermon.  The  results  were  very  gratifying  as 
I  received  replies  from  more  than  half  of  the  clergymen  to  whom 
letters  were  sent,  stating  that  they  would  be  glad  to  preach  a 
sermon  along  the  lines  suggested. 

Letters  were  also  sent  to  the  newspapers  enclosing  certain 
literature  regarding  fire  prevention  and  asking  them  to  use  as 
much  of  it  as  possible  in  the  issues  of  their  paper  upon  that 
date. 

1  conferred  with  the  editors  of  the  big  Sunday  papers  some 
little  time  before  Fire  I'rever'Mun  Day  and  called  to  their  atten- 
tion the  fact  that  a  specie  re  prevention  supplement  was  is- 
sued by  a  certain  Xew  VoiK  paper  and  brought  to  ttieir  atten- 
tion the  fact  that  as  a  commercial  venture  it  could  be  made  de- 
cidedly profitable  to  their  papers  to  issue  such  a  supplement  the 

67 


Sunday  before  Fire  Prevention  Day.  i  furnished  them  with  a 
copy  of  the  supplement  issued  by  the  New  York  paper  and 
called  attention  to  the  vast  amount  of  advertising  therein  and 
agreed  to  assist  them  by  giving  them  the  names  of  all  the  con- 
cerns I  knew  who  did  work  along  lines  of  fire  prevention  I 
also  agreed  to  furnish  them  with  material  that  would  be  of  in- 
terest m  such  a  supplement.  This  plan  was  considered  favor- 
ablv  by  all  of  the  editors  with  whom  I  talked,  but  we  were  con- 
fronted with  the  fact  that  an  embargo  had  been  placed  upon  pa- 
per because  of  the  war  and  that  it  would  be  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  obtam  the  extra  paper  for  such  a  supplement.  Two  edi- 
tors of  large  Boston  papers,  however,  did  issue  such  a  supple- 
ment and  I  was  told  by  the  others  that  another  year  they  would 
be  very  glad  to  issue  such  a  supplement  if  the  embargo  was  re- 

Street  car  advertising  was  also  done  by  the  department 
and  a  special  rate  was  made  by  the  Eastern  Advertising  Com- 
pany because  of  the  character  of  the  advertising  and  a  placard 
was  placed  in  every  car  in  the  Metropolitan  district  to  run  for 
two  weeks  prior  to  Fire  Prevention  Day. 

I  also  sent  to  the  factories  of  the  district  a  letter  asking  them 
to  have  an  inspectioti  of  the  factory  made  upon  that  date,  also 
sending  them  fire  prevention  literature  to  be  distributed  among 
the  employes  and  asked  them  to  correct  existing  hazardous 
conditions.  *^ 

The  observance  of  the  day  was  taken  up  with  the  Suoer- 
mtendents  of  the  public  and  parochial  schools  and  literature  was 
sent  them  and  the  day  observed  in  some  manner  by  every  school 
in  the  district.  Chiefs  and  members  of  the  Fire  departments  gave 
us  excellent  co-operation ;  fire  drills  were  held  in  the  schools 
and  in  many  of  the  schools  the  firemen  addressed  the  pupils  on 
tire  prevention  subjects. 

Perhaps  the  crowning  event  of  the  day  was  a  mass  meeting 
held  in  the  National  theatre  in  Boston  in  the  evening  This 
meeting  was  arranged  by  a  committee  consisting  of  the  Fire 
Prevention  Commissioner  as  Chairman.  T.  G.  Toomey  repre- 
senting retail  stores  and  the  Massachusetts  Fire  Chiefs  Club 
Alfred  Davenport,  representing  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Un- 
derwriters Guy  D.  Gold  of  the  Boston  Safety  Council,  Chairman 
KlackaU  of  the  Insurance  Rates  Committee  of  the  Boston  Cham- 
her  of  Commerce.  VW  T.  Collyer.  representing  the  National  Fire 
f  rotcction  Association.  Capt.  George  P.  Carter,  U.  S.  A..  James 
H.  Phelan  of  the  Public  Celebrations  Committee. 

68 


The  Filene  Company,  one  of  the  largest  department  stores 
in  the  country,  upt)n  Fire  Prevention  Day  have  a  test  of  their 
fire  curtain  to  which  the  Chiefs  of  the  entire  state  are  invited, 
after  which  a  banquet  is  given  by  the  Filene  Company.  This 
custom  was  followed  last  year  after  which  a  parade  was  formed 
at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Summer  streets  in  Boston,  con- 
sisting of  a  large  number  of  pieces  of  the  fire  apparatus  of  the 
city,  Chiefs  from  all  over  the  state  in  their  machines,  insurance 
men  and  representatives  of  various  safety  promoting  organiza- 
tions, clubs  from  retail  stores.  Coy  Scouts  of  America  and  sev- 
eral bodies  of  cadets  with  their  bands. 

The  parade  marched  from  the  point  of  formation  to  the 
National  theatre,  where  a  largely  attended  mass  meeting  was 
held  and  which  was  addressed  by  a  repre.sentative  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, the  Mayor  of  Boston,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Connecticut, 
Mr.  F.  H.  Wentworth,  Secretary  of  the  National  Fire  Protection 
Association,  and  other  speakers  of  prominence.  Moving  pictures 
treating  on  fire  and  accident  prevention  were  shown. 

While  I  think  all  these  things  that  were  done  were  partic- 
ularly valuable,  I  feel  that  newspaper  advertising  would  be  of 
inestimable  value  provided  we  had  ar  appropriation  sufficient 
to  do  the  same  on  a  large  scale.  Unless  advertising  is  on  a 
basis  so  large  that  it  i'^  ..,  ^''d  to  attract  attention  and  cause  dis- 
cussion I  do  not  fef  .'■  .  .'.  particularly  helpful.  While  news- 
paper and  magazine  ad.v  -ing  on  a  large  scale  is  perhaps  too 
expensive  for  any  pari.  i.  >  state  to  engage  in,  I  think  that  if 
the  advertising  were  done  on  a  co-operative  plan  it  would  mean 
much  for  fire  prevention.  For  instance,  if  some  arrangement 
cou'J  be  arrived  at  whereby  each  state  would  contribute  a  cer- 
tain amount  toward  a  two-page  adv<  .sement  in  some  publica- 
tion having  a  great  circulation  sucl  >  the  Saturday  Evening 
Post,  the  advertisement  to  be  prepared  by  a  committee  of  this 
organization,  I  feel  that  the  immensity  oi  the  proposition  and 
the  novelty  of  it  would  cause  much  comment  and  that  fire  pre- 
vention would  receive  much  attention  and  discussion.  I  think 
the  value  of  such  an  ad  would  be  far  greater  to  each  state  than 
the  state  could  obtain  by  the  expenditure  of  an  amount  equal  to 
its  contribution  in  a  smaller  advertisement  done  locally. 

From  the  resume  of  the  work  done  by  Massachusetts  last 
year  _>ou  may  understand  that  I  believe  the  best  method  for 
results  for  Fire  Prevention  Day  is  publicity  obtained,  first  by 
the  proclamation  of  the  Governor,  which  I  believe  should  re- 
ceive wide  circulation,  and  which,  of  course,  receives  considerable 

69 


r    f 


n 


attention  from  the  newspapers  throughout  the  state  by  pos- 
ters ,n  street  cars,  on  posts  and  in  other  places  where  the  eT 
pense  of  same  will  not  be  too  e-reat  a  h„r,l.^  -.    .u    f 
bv  obtainincr  fh  ^     ,      burden  on  the  department; 

by   obtaming  the   coH>peration   of   factories    in    the   district    in 
spreading  f.re  prevention  propaganda  and  correcting  ha  "1"" 
conditions  ,n  other  places;  by  enlisting  the  aid  of  the  churche 
by   having  special   sermons  preached  on   the   Sunday   pHor  to 
F.re   Prevention  Day;   by   paying  particular   attention   to   the 
schools  ,n  the  distribution  of  literature  therein,  fir     dHIK  and 
addresses  made  to  them  on  matters  connected  with  fire  preven 
t,on  of  which  they  have  particular  knowledge  and  pamphlet,' 
rades  on  f'"  P^  '  ''"  ^""^'^  ^"'^^  °"  ^'^  prevenlrby 'p  ! 
he  meTni^"  f  tr'd '"  ""/'  '°''  ^'^  ^"^P^^^  ^^  emphasising 
ventrmafters.  ''  '''  '"'  ""^'"^  P^°P'^  '^  ^'-"-  ^'-  pre- 

devised.     I  think  it  important  that  in  the  schools,  in  the'  fac- 
to  es  and  other  places  where  fire  prevention  exerc Ls  s  are  held 
hat  one  particular  phase  of  fire  prevention  be  taken  up  It  Jhat 

mTk '  :L "■  ''°"  ^"  '"'"^^'•■■^'-  ^^^^'-^^i"'  -  home  crdftion  and 
Zu         rT""l  '"''  '''  ''''  ^"^J^'^t  »>y  ^'"Phasis.    I  think  it  is 

support     '''  '"^^^"^  '"^  ^^"-^'  p"^''->-  and .:::: 

It  is  the  intention  of  this  department  to  enlist  the  Mavors 
Pretntiorn"'  ^°"'^  ""'  '^'^^^'"^"  '"  '^^  ^^-^       tl     'f^^ 

^^t:i^^rsri^;:;---e::;j-^^ 
tttt/rciaTb^"^^  '^'V-'  ^ayTnno^i%:::;en:i:h 

nJrrthr;^--r^^^ 

aged.     The  outline  given  above  offers   suggestions   for  a  Trn 
gram  ancl  the  items  to  be  employed  should  tt  s    "ted  as  L'ans" 
to  an  end  bearing  in  mind  the  forces  and  equipment  avaUabr 

Mr.  i^ewis  for  hi.,  excellent  paper,  and  I  think  his  suesrestion  to 
create  both  a  Fire  Prevention  Day  and  an  Accident  Re        ion 
Day  an  exceedingly  good  one.     I  think  we  would  ^et  verv  m  °> 
better  results  in  the  state  of  Ohio  if  hi.  .„g.es    of  va  ?  i     ^ 
and  put  into  practice.    The  matter  is.  howe^^e;  o^  ;  il^  f 

quTst-orb:."'  ^"^  ''-  ''-''-  --  -°^  sugg:st1ons^t7;e 

70 


1  will  now  call  upon  Mr.  George  F.  Lewis,  Deputy  Fire  Mar- 
shal of  the  province  of  Ontario,  to  lead  the  discussion  on  this 
subject. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Geo.  F.  Lewis:  With  regard  to  the  subject  which  has 
been  dealt  with  by  Mr.  Frank  Lewis,  the  first  thing  that  strikes 
me  as  of  vital  importance  is  that  of  publicity,  and  in  that  connec- 
tion, one  of  the  most  important  matters  is  the  proclamation  which 
is  issued  from  year  to  year  by  your  Governors  in  the  various 
states  and  was  issued  by  the  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  province 
of  Ontario  last  year.  Instead  of  a  proclamation  of  a  state  charac- 
ter, would  it  not  be  better  to  issue  one  of  a  national  character, 
and  instead  of  having  the  various  state  Governors  make  the 
proclamation,  have  the  President  of  the  United  States,  who, 
as  you  are  all  aware,  took  such  a  great  interest  in  the  fire  pre- 
vention campaign  last  year,  deliver  it?  It  would  nationalize  the 
thing,  and  get  people  thinking.  We  are  trying  to  ascertain 
whether  the  Governor  General  of  Canada  >sn  issue  such  a  proc- 
lamation here  and  thus  nationalize  our  campaign. 

In  Ontario  we  are  taking  up  general  publicity  work  on  a 
much  larger  scale  thani  we  did  last  year.  Last  year  we  organ- 
ized the  Ontario  Fire  Prevention  League,  on  August  30th,  and 
since  then  we  have  obtained  exceptionally  good  results.  We 
have  had  the  co-operation  of  the  newspapers,  the  Fire  v  hiefs 
and  the  various  public  and  municipal  authorities  very  largely 
throughout  the  province.  Since  the  organization  of  the  League 
there  has  been  a  noticeable  reduction  in  the  number  of  fires,  and 
for  the  first  six  months  of  this  year,  as  compared  with  the  year 
1918,  there  has  been  a  reduction  of  1,037  fires  in  the  province  and 
of  almost  $;5,0()0,(lOO  in  tiie  amount  of  loss.  These  results  are 
very  encouraja;ing,  and  in  order  to  increase  them  we  are  going 
to  double  our  advertising  and  get  the  newspapers  to  co-operate, 
showing  them  that  by  getting  out  special  editions  they  can 
make  money,  and  thus  help  us  both  directly  and  indirectly  in 
getting  the  people  to  buy  fire  extinguishers,  to  install  lightning 
rods  and  so  on.  Last  night  a  gentleman  informed  me  that  as 
the  result  of  a  pamphlet  issued  by  our  department  the  num- 
ber of  fire  extinguishers  sold  has  been  greatly  increasea.  He 
said,  "We  never  sold  any  to  the  farmers  before,  and  now  they 
are  wailing  to  buy  them." 

We  are  taking  up  the  question  of  publicity  in  various  trade 
papers  and  getting  them  to  issue  special  editions.  They  see 
good  business  for  them  in  so  doing,  and  are  readily  falling  into 

71 


tif 


line  with  our  suggestions.  Some  of  them  are  getting  out  sn«. 
cal  /.re  prevention  editions  which  will  be  prJuivf  o?  Vrea^ 
co-operat.on  m  the  October  campaign.  ^ 

circullnz^n'/th"'"^  ''.'  f  "^  '"  ^"  ''^^  '^'^'^-'^  '"terested  by 
s  Zf/  ^J  ""  I"''  ^"^"i^hing  them  with  information  and 
•sfmulatrng  the.r  enthusiasm  in  our  cause  in  everv  possible  way 

m.H.i      ?'  ^  ""  ""^  "'^  providing  one  thousand  gold  plated 

tnedals   of  a   very   attractive   design    which    will   be   presented 

hroughout  the  provmce  on  a  per  capita  basis,  and  thrrprizes 
a  sohd  gold   medal  and  two  solid  silver  medals,  wi "be  pre-' 
sented  to  students  m  colleges  and  universities  for  the  three  best 
essays  on  fire  prevention  topics.     These  essays  excite  great  in 
terest  among  those  attending  the  various  schools,  and  in  many 

n  ances  the  local  papers  will  publish  them.  n  get  "ng  tSe 
children  to  read  up  fire  prevention  topics  we  are  dfreclf  and 
unconsciously  educating  their  parents.  ^ 

We  are  getting  a  great  deal  of  co-operation  from  the  dif- 
ferent organizations   in   the  province,   such  as  women's  club 
and  other  social  groups.  i-iuus, 

Mr.  Lewis  also  referred  to  exhibitions.  We  have  not  Pot  to 
that  stage  yet.  I  believe,  however,  that  the  visual  I  ng^f  the  e 
things  IS  bound  to  be  productive  of  great  success  in^the  work 
of  fire  prevention.  ** 

President  Fleming:  Mr.  Arthur  E.  Fisher,  Fir.  Commis- 
sioner ot  Saskatchewan,  will  continue  the  discussion  on  Thfs 
p^pcr. 

Mr  Fisher:  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen :  I  regret  v. rv 
rnuch  indeed  that  since  coming  from  th<  west  I  have^een  at^ 
tacked  by  hay  fever  and  am  unable  to  speak  very  loudly 

We  have  the  Fire  Prevention  Day  in  Saskatchewan,  which 
provnce  is  as  perhaps  you  all  know,  absolutelv  rural  I  sh-uld 
say  that  of  our  population  of  ToO.OOo  fully  ninety  per  .eut  ire 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  cons'equentlv  \h.  carvving 

?rom  tha":  ^'J^"^''''"''^^       '^  --P-."  ,s  decidedly  iiffeV  "nf 
trom  that  which  you  may  'oy  here. 

The  Saskatchewan  gov.  nnent  conducts  a  Publicity  Bu- 
reau and  the  newspaper  editors  throughout  the  province  are  only 
too  pleased  to  publish  for  us  ,„y  items  that  are  given  them. 

In  the  schools  also  we  are  greatly  assisted.  Our  f-Ve  n- 
v_e„t.u„  campaign  is  on  October  9th.  and.  owing  to  the  faCt 
that  Saskatchewan  is  so  much  farther  north  than  the  cities 
from  which  you  gentlemen  have  come,  our  harvest  operations 

72 


are  about  that  date,  so  the  only  hope  we  liave  of  making  our 
Fire  Prevention  Day  campaign  is  to  work  through  the  children. 
In  our  province  we  have  a  great  foreign  population.  The  Edu- 
cation department  of  the  province  of  Saskatchewan  is  doing 
the  greatest  work  imaginable  in  Canadianizing  these  foreign 
children  and  we  join  with  them  in  instilling  into  their  minds  the 
necessity  for  fire  prevention. 

I  sent  out  from  my  office  last  year  a  program  to  the  4,120 
schools  in  Saskatchewan  and  suggested  to  the  teachers  that  they 
should  a.ik  the  pupils  to  report  on  the  morning  of  October  10th 
just  wha;  had  been  done  and  to  forward  to  me  a  statement  of 
the  results  of  their  inquiry.  I  was  deluged  with  replies  from  va- 
rious school  teachers.  Small  boys  had  gone  out  and  plowed  fire- 
guards around  tiieir  homes  and  around  the  barns.  Children  had 
gone  home  and  inspected  the  stove  pipes  and  at  the  request  of 
the  children  the  parents  had  remedied  dangerous  conditions. 

Briefly,  conditions  in  our  province  are  much  different  from 
those  in  the  older  states  (we  have  only  had  two  Fire  Prevention 
Days  in  Saskatchewan  since  we  became  a  state  in  1905),  but  I 
am  thoroughly  convinced  that  the  results  obtained  last  October, 
coupled  with  the  increased  effort  to  be  made  this  year,  will  put 
our  province  much  farther  ahead  in  fire  prevention  work. 

President  Flendng:  We  have  indeed  enjoyed  the  message 
from  Saskatchewan.  The  next  item  on  our  program  for  this 
morning  is  a  paper  entitled :  "The  Underwriters'  Laboratories 
and  Fire  Prevention."  by  Mr.  A.  R.  Small.  Vice-President.  Un- 
derwriters' Laboratories,  Chicago,  111. 

UNDERWRITERS'  LABORATORIES— ITS  WORK  IN 
FIRE  PREVENTION. 

Mr.  Small:  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen:  With  the  in- 
dulgence of  the  Program  Committee,  I  will  change  the  title  of 
the  subject  assigned  to  me  to:  "L^nderwriters'  Laboratories- 
Its  Work  in  Fire  Prevention." 

We  are  not  the  only  means  of  fire  prevention,  nor  the  only 
way  in  which  lire  prevention  methods  are  brought  to  you.  We 
havf  Olio  place  in  the  whole  fire  prevention  campaign  and  it 
IS  that  place,  or  certain  phases  of  it,  about  which  I  wish  to  talk 
to  you.  Two  special  phases  of  our  work  in  fire  prevention  are 
v4  special  interest  to  you.  One  phase  is  the  service  rendered 
in  avoiding  the  very  great  expense  which  would  accrue  to  all 
concerned  if  there  were  more  than  one  organization  attempting 
to  perform  the  work  which  we  carry  on. 

73 


The  staff  of  the  Laboratories  regards  itself  as  an  aeencv 
created  and  ma.ntained  to  perform  for  manufacturers  of  Hre 
apphances  the  serv.ce  of  securing  correct  information  concern! 

who  i"^'''"'".""  '"'■•''^•^'""•-ting  that  information  to  all 
who  may  be  mterested. 

Tlie   work   was   begun   some    twenty-five   years   ago   when 
e  ectr.c.ty  was  new  an.l  its  hazards  were  much  feareT     In  all 
of  the  then  ex,stmg  underwriting  organizations  throughout  the 
country,  and  especially  in  the  larger  cities  of  the  Unite.l  States 
large  or  small  .nspect.on  bureaus  were  opera-.-d  to  report  on  the 
hazard  or  lack  of  ,t  m  various  wiring  and  electrical  dVvices      U 
came  about  that  a  manufacturer  might  take  I,      appliances  to 
the  mspection   department  in   Boston   and   receive   a   favorable 
report,  while  from  New  York  an  unfavorable  report  wo\^:    b 
made.  and.  after  exhibiting  them   throughout   the  continent  of 
Amenca.  mcludmg  Canada,  at  least  two  different  opinions  were 
on  record  concernmg  identical  devices.     There  was  then  in  Chi- 
cago one  of  these  organizations  to  which  matiufacturers  had  to 
bnng  appliances      Mr.   W.   H.   Merrill,  our   President  and   the 
orgamzer  of  L  nderwriters'  Laboratories,  conceived  the  idea  of 
securmg  national  support  for  the  work  of  the  little  laboratory 
n  Chicago     I  e  presented  his  idea  to  the  executives  of  the  kZ 
tional  1  oard  of  t.re  L-nderwritcrs  and  secured  for  his  work  the 
national  support  desired. 

tri  ^7V^u  ""'"  '^^ein.  mg  it  has  come  to  pass  in  the  elec- 
tncal  field  that  it  ,s  no  longer  necessary  for  a  manufacturer 
o  go  to  more  than  ^„,  p,,,^  ^,.  ^^^^^^  ^^  ^  regarding  the 

bearing  which  h.s  appliance  may  have  upon  the  fire  or    acci- 
dent hazard.    Thus  the  manufacturer  is  very  admirablv  serx  e.l 
nrLZ  T  annoyance  of  having  more  than  one  opinion 

outstanding  concerning  h.s  appliance  and  is  relieved  of  the  ex- 
pense of  carrying  his  appliance  to  every  existing  organisation 
throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada.     He^com'es  .one 
place  and   IS  done,  and   thus  saves  time,   trouble,  energv   and 
money.     Consider  also  the  expense  which  would  result  if  the 
system   existing   in    the   electrical    field   twentv-five   years    ago 
persisted,  under  which  all  the  mspection  organizations  for  the 
Lnderwnters   associations  throughout  the  countrv.  and  all  mu- 
nicipal electrical  departments  organized  in  the  p'rincipal  cities 
and  the  various  offices  of  the  State  Fire  Marshals  should  at- 
tempt to  maintain  electrical  or  other  testing  laboratories  to  reach 
opinions  Identical  with  those  we  reach  at  Underwriters'  Labo- 
ratories.    Conceive  of  the  waste  rnvoJved  in  the  time  of  engi- 

74 


neers  and  others  in  considering  ihe  multitude  oi  fittings  con- 
cerning which  reports  are  available  to  dl  of  you  through  the 
Laboratories'  publications. 

Thus  the  first  service  of  Underwriters'  Laborat*>ries  is  to 
conserve  the  time,  energy  and  money  of  manufacturers  and  of 
the  public  in  arriving  at  i)roper  opinions  concerning  the  utility, 
the  safety,  the  bearing  on  tiic  fire  hazard  of  api)Iiances,  whether 
they  be  electrical,  for  gas  or  acetylene  lighting,  or  concern  any 
other  angle  of  the  problem  in  which  we  are  all  so  deeply  in- 
terested. This  particular  phase  of  our  work  I  have  oftentimes 
felt  is  not  thoroughly  understood.  From  time  to  time  we  hear 
of  plans  of  this  or  that  organization  to  duplicate  our  work  and 
conduct  for  itself  work  paralleling  that  which  we  feel  competent 
to  do  and  which  many  of  you  fed  is  being  well  done  by  us. 

There  are  in  the  records  of  the  Laboratories  the  boiled- 
Hown  information  and  experience  of  our  staff  in  the  examination 
of  some  120,000  appliances  and  articles  having  a  bearing  on  the 
lire  hazard.  Those  of  you  who  refer  to  our  published  lists  of 
standard  material  may  fail  to  find  therein  reference  to  even 
half  that  number  of  devices.  That  is  because  it  i>  not  the  case 
that  every  device  that  comes  through  our  doors  passes  out  with 
a  favorable  ticket  on  it.  Those  devices  which  come  in  and  fail 
to  receive  a  favorable  rating  are  not  advertised  by  us,  and  are 
usually  not  advertised  by  the  manufacturers. 

In  practically  all  lines  the  work  is  based  upon  the  funda- 
mentals of  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  National  Board  and 
the  National  Fire  Protection  Association  as  to  how  fire  appli- 
ances should  be  installed  and  used.  When  neither  the  National 
Board  nor  the  National  Fire  Protection  Association  have  given 
stud)  to  it  we  apply  'o  such  authority  as  may  have  given  study 
to  the  subject  in  order  that  we  may  Ik  sure  th.t  our  work 
is  conducted  aionjj  proper  enj^ineerinij;  lin(  -.  Each  report  pre- 
pared by  our  engineers  is  sub'  ted  to  the  closest  scrutiny  by  a 
council,  in  the  membership  (  which  arc  men  operating  daily 
for  the  inspection  of  appliances  either  i-r  insurance  compa- 
nies or  government  departments.  I  will  not  take  up  tuither  time 
in  explaining  the  details  of  our  routine  and  the  extremes  to 
which  we  go  to  be  sure  that  our  eports  when  published  are 
based  upon  the  l^est  ohtain.'shic  opinion  concerning  the  merits 
of  fire  appliances. 

The  other  phase  of  the  work  which  Underwriters'  Labora- 
tories performs  in  the  field  of  fire  prevention  which  I  think  de- 

75 


nt 


serves  your  attentiu,.  is  that  which  makes  available  t.,  each  of 
nol   ,u(f,c,eM    ,ha,    a   manuladui.r   nrmt   )„m„lt     1„|,       ^ 

"■"■""^ •"" " «•  ■'... wm ,.„:„;„':;  vT; : ;:' 

recei,.-  a  crc.lu.-.hk.  raii,,,,.     |,  j,  „„,„,„.  :„     '  "   "'''  "  '" 

.»,  re„„a,i„„  a,„,  u,.-  i"..r«;  ,:n,:::^: ';*'„;,"  „7'-' 

vice  to  („ll„„.  up  ,1„  (av„rabl.  „,,.„i„„  i„„,d  a,  ,hV  LZ  „f 
possible,  tor  ,„s,a„ce,  for  ,h.  of  ice  „f  rW  Fire  Vrrl,  ^  '"" 

:a:f;rrje","t„e7tr;t^.e::art7T  ••■"-.— - 

President  Fleming:    Gentlemen,  it  is  now  about  12:30  p.'  m 

76 


What  is  your  pleasure  wi  i  rcjranl  to  the  discussion  on  Mr. 
Small's  address? 

It  was  moved,  seconded  and  carried,  that  the  convention  go 
into  recess  until  2  }>.  m. 

At  \2:M)  p.  m.  a  June!  .uo  .■  -  tendered  by  the  Corporation 
of  the  citv  of  Toronto  in  tl'  i' -■  .  -ian  rcK)ni,  Kinp  Fvdward  Ho- 
tel. 


77 


SECOND  DAY'S  PROGRAM 


Afternoon  Session. 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  President  Flemin.-  at 
<:1')  p.  m.  *• 

President  Fleming:  Now.  gentlemen.  I  am  sure  you  will 
all  agree  that  we  have  enjoyed  a  right  royal  entertainment  and 
that  we  feel  amply  repaid  for  the  time  thus  spent. 

F.-r/vr"'??^?,"  T"  ^^'-  "^"^•"''  R"^'«^''K'e.  .Assistant  State 
F  re  Marshal  of  .\I,ch.gai,.  to  lead  the  discussion  on  Mr.  Small's 
address  on  ■•Underwriters'  Laboratories— Its  W  ork  in  Fire  Pre- 
vention." 

Secretary  Gamber:  .Mr.  Kmledge  has  been  compelled 
to  leave.  .Mr.  President. 

President  Fleming:  Oh,  yes.  And  he  asked  me  to  tell  all 
of  you  that  he  was  most  heartily  in  accord  with  the  -ervices 
rendered,  but  that  as  he  was  not  an  engineer,  but  simply  an  or- 
dinary Fire  Marshal  using  the  product  of  the  Laboratories  he 
telt  It  .  Id  be  better  for  him  not  to  criticize  or  enlarge  upon 
the  pos  i    .ities  outlined  by  .Mr.  Small. 

I  will  now  call  upon  .Mr.  J.  ,\.  Tracy.  State  Fire  .Marshal  of 
Iowa,  to  lead  the  discussion. 

DISCUSSION. 
f.'-  Tracy:     n,e  subject.    "The  L'nderwriters'  Laboratories 
and  Fire  f  reyention. '  has  been  so  ihoroughlv  and  al.lv  <iiscusseu 
ihat  very  little  remains  to  be  said. 

However,  having  visuci  the  Laboratories  in  Cbioag...  I  was 
deeply  impressed  with  .he  proficiency  of  its  w.rk  and  1  do  not 
hesitate  to  say  that  it  is  a  vonderful  establishment  of  learning 
and  experience  an<l  it  is  and  ought  to  be  of  great  service  to  the 
states  of  the  L  nited  States  and  the  provinces  of  Cana.la  The 
states  and  provinces  woui.i  no,  separately  attempt  to  maintain 
hke  establishments  in  the  same  degree  of  pn.ficiencv.  There- 
tore  the  L^nderwriters-  Laboratories  is  entitled  to  the  support 
of  all  State  Fire  Marshals  as  welt  as  all  fire  prevention  agencies. 

Speaking  from  actual  experience  covering  a  period  of  eight 
years.  I  can  cite  many  cases  where  as  the  result  of  defective  or 
non-standard    electric    wiring    fire.,    have-    occurred,      it    is    not 

78 


uncommon  to  find  electric  wiring  installed  many  years  ago  to 
furnish  a  few  lights  and  at  that  time  heavy  enough  to  carry  the 
load  required,  to  which  have  been  added  more  and  more  lamps, 
thereby  overloading  the  wire  and  the  result,  naturally,  was  fire. 

I  have  also  inspected  large  buildings  in  the  course  of  con- 
struction and  have  found  the  bushing  for  wires  which  passed 
through  the  joists  and  studding  so  close  to  the  edge  that  lath 
nails  pierced  the  bushing  and  had  torn  the  insulation  from 
the  wire. 

I  have  also  found  electric  light  wires  nailed  fast  to  the 
framework.  These  conditions  exist  for  lack  of  education  which 
can  be  furnished  by  the  Underwriters*  Laboratories. 

Another  great  danger  we  have  tO'  contend  with  is  the  mo- 
tion picture  film  and  booth.  We  have  been  doing  our  best  to 
educate  the  people  to  a  realization  of  the  danger  in  handling 
films  and  the  maintenance  of  non-standard  booths. 

Even  machine  operat.>rs  will  wire  the  fire  shutter  of  the 
machine  so  it  will  not  close. 

Films  are  scattered  promiscuously  over  the  booth. 

.'smoking  is  often  allowed  in  the  biMith  during  the  operation 
of  the  machine,  and  still  the  owner  and  proprietor  declare  there 
is  no  danger  and  protest  against  remedying  the  conditions. 

These  conditions  also  e.xist  for  lack  of  education,  which  is 
another  reason  why  we  shouM  stand  by  a  competent  teacher 
and  make  e.xtra  effort  to  impress  upon  all  manufacturers  and 
sales  companies  of  motion  picture  machines  and  films  the  im- 
portance of  furnislnng  their  patrons  with  full  information  cov- 
ering the  danger  from  fire  when  a  machine  is  defective  and 
there  is  carelessness  in  handling  films,  as  well  as  maintaining 
a  non-standard  booth. 

It  is  no  uncommon  occurrence  in  inakin^  insp^•i.t!on^  to 
find  bad  fire  haEardou>  ( cMiditions  and  l:a\i  tlie  jti  pnetor  tell 
you  that  the  general  agent  of  the  iii'iirance  company  which 
carries  the  in-urance  liad  recently  nispei.u«)  tlie  place  .uid  made 
no  olijections  to  the  risk. 

In  other  cases  the  general  agent  found  c  ndition^  so  bad 
that  they  threatened  to  cam  » I  the  insuranic  unless  conditions 
were  remedie<l.  The  insured  would  invariahl  sa\.  "All  right. 
I  c.in  get  all  the  insurance  I  w.int  from  ^ome  other  agent,"  and 
he  does.     Lack  of  co-operation. 

.•\  very  small  per  cent  ot  liie  risks  arc  inspected  before  tiie 

T) 


insurance  is  written.  In  inany  cases  the  ajL^ent  advises  a  larger 
policy  than  the  insured  asks  for  and  a  fire  soon  follows. 

I  have  in  mind  one  case  where  the  policy  was  delivered  at 
11  p.  m.  and  fire  occurred  at  2  a.  m  the  following  morning.  The 
house  and  several  lots  cost  ■$l,40(t  and  the  policy  on  the  house 
alone  was  for  $7.nO().  I.ack  of  interest  to  protect  the  insurance 
company 

1  could  cite  many  other  similar  cases. 

Often  a  city  council  will  vote  a  s|)ecial  permit  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  frame  building  within  the  fire  limit  district  in  direct 
violation  of  their  liuilding  ordinances.     Lack  of  d.uty. 

In  my  upininn  the  foundation  of  fire  prevention  is  inspec- 
tion and  the  imie  has  come  when  the  rising  generation  must  be 
taken  into  consideration  through  the  school  house  of  knowledge 
furnished  1>\  the  rnderwriter.^'  Laboratories  and  assisted  by  al! 
fire  i>revention  agencies. 

If  the  concerted  efforts  of  all  these  agencies  can  be  brought 
to  bear,  with  the  aid  ..f  the  press,  on  the  law-making  bodies 
and  the  agent  xvlu)  write-  the  insurance,  the  fires  due  to  gross 
carelessness  wiP  soon  be  kwked  upon  a-;  crimes  rather  than  as 
advertisements  for  the  v.riters  of  insurance. 

I  know  some  ])eople  gel  mad  when  over-insurance  is  men- 
tioned, but  nevertheless  fully  ninety  i>er  cent  of  the  reqursts 
for  the  investigation  of  suspicious  fires  are  based  on  the  over- 
insurance  feature 

Why  not  commence  at  the  scli(jollion~>e  menti<ri.'j(l  an<l  use 
our  best  efforts  to  educate  the  people  along  the  lines  .^f  profi- 
ciency and  staiulard  equipment,  and  ])revai!  upon  the  state  and 
city  governments  to  a<l(i])t  ■-tamlard  methods. 

.Mso  call  on  the  heads  of  insurance  c(>mj>anies  .nul  pre- 
vail upon  them  to  get  in  closer  touch  with  their  agents  and 
then  by  a  concerted  effort  form  (.)ne  grand  army  of  insjiectors 
to  find  and  eliminate  the  fire  hazards,  thereby  sowing  the  seeds 
of  real  fire  prevention. 

Let  standard  c(juipments  and  thorough  in>])eclioi.>  be  tiic 
watchwords  of  thi^  coiuention. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Shapley  (Toronto):  Mr.  {'resident,  may  I 
through  you,  a~k  .Mr.  Small  a  (juestion? 

President  Fleming:     Certainly. 

M"-.  Shapley.  I'erhap-  .ill  members  of  the  Fire  Marshals' 
Association  arc  not   aware  that  the   .Manufacturers'  Association 

80 


have  been  taking  quite  an  interest  in  fire  prevention  work  for 
a  few  years  past,  and  recently  they  passed  a  resolution  recom- 
inendinu;  that  the  jjfnvernnient  compel  all  large  risks  to  be  sprin- 
l.lcred.  in  our  discitssidi.  as  to  the  i|uestion  of  the  advisability 
(.1  having  an  act  if  that  kind  passed,  it  was  said  to  us  at  one  or 
two  of  our  meetings  that  if  we  did  that  we  would  be  placing 
ourselves  in  the  iMniis  of  a  strong  combination,  the  manufac- 
turers of  sprinkler  heads  and  other  equipment,  and  it  was  said 
It  was  impossible  for  an  ordinary  manufacturer  of  sprinkler 
heads  (if  he  were  to  start  up  the  manufacture  of  sprinkler  heads 
in  this  country)  to  get  the  sanction  of  the  fnderwriters'  Lab- 
oratories m  Chicago  on  account  of  the  insurance  companies  and 
the  I'liderwriters'  Laboratories  working  chjse  together.  It  was 
stated  that  only  those  who  had  the  sanction  of  the  L'nderwriters' 
Laboratories  would  lie  allowed  to  manufacture  a  sprinkler  liead 
which  would  meet  the  retpiirements  of  the  Underwriters'  As- 
sociaticm.  1  tliouglu  tl.i>  would  be  an  opportunity  of  asking 
Mr.  Small  to  explain  that  matter  1  would  like  to  be  in  a  ix.si- 
tion  to  have  information  on  the  subject  when  it  comes  up  again 
and  to  i)e  able  to  say  that  I  obtained  that  i-iformation  from  the 
L'nderwriters'  Laboratn.'ies  of  Chicago. 

1  would  like  to  ask  Mr.  Small  if  there  is  anything  to  pre- 
vent an  independent  manufacturer  in  the  I)  minion  of  Canad." 
from  manufacturing  sprinkler  heads  that  will  answer  the  i)ur- 
I>ose  and  pass  the  insurance  regulations. 

Mr.  Small:  Mr.  President,  answering  through  \  on  Mr. 
Sliai)le\'>  (inestion.  permit  me  to  say  there  i>  only  one  thing  1 
can  Jhink  <if  that  would  prevent  a  Canailian  manufacturer  ,^r  an 
.Ameruan  manufacturer,  or  a  manufacturer  from  any  other  coun- 
try, iron  .-,cciiriiii;  a  favorable  rei)ort  from  Underwriters"  Lal)o- 
oratorK  regarding  an  automatic  sprinkler  or  any  other  ap- 
pliance, and  (hat  one  thing  would  be  the  manufacturer's  inabil- 
ity t<i  make  .i  g  ..,1  sprinkler.  The  definition  of  a  "good  si>rink- 
ler"  i>.  pirhap.-.  t  ..  inv,,Ived  t<i  be  givrr,  here.  We  all  realize 
that  an  automatic  -I'rinkler  is  relied  up.. it  by  property  owners, 
by  auth.iritio  reprc-cntm^  the  i)eopIe  of  the  cities  and  states. 
and  b_\  the  in-<ur;inc«'  people  to  a  very  great  extent.  .\s  an  evi- 
dence i.f  the  reliance  placed  ujton  it  by  insurance  i)eo])le  y<.u 
need  to  refer  onl\  f  tlic  very  generous  retiuctions  in  insurance 
rates  vvhi.  h  are  gucii  when  proper  in.^tallations  of  automatic 
sprinklers  are  ma<lc  in  buildings.  There  are  cases  where  rates 
arc  rcdiued  fr.  .m  .,yvr  one  and  one-half  jier  cemt  lo  less  than  a 
.uiari.-r  -f  -.ne  ner  cmt  ,,.vi.,^  to  th<-  i,;tro(>uc*i-!i  ,,f  aiUoaiati;- 

HI 


sprinklers.  These  cases  are  not  at  all  rare  m  our  Laboratories, 
where  we  examine  automatic  sjjrinklers  v.ith  a  view  to  ascertain- 
ing their  reliability  in  case  of  fire  and  i^^  estimating  the  probabil- 
ity of  an  individual  sprinkler  remaining  in  service  for  twenty  to 
twenty-five  years  without  more  than  a  casual  inspection  on  the 
part  of  a  property  owner,  or,  perhaps,  on  the  part  of  the  insur- 
ance company. 

Hence,  the  mechanics  of  the  automatic  sprinkler  must  be 
such  as  to  allow  that  sprinkler  to  perform  in  its  intended  man- 
ner for  not  only  the  brief  one  or  two  year  period  that  the  prop- 
erty owner's  interest  will  remain  acute  in  his  equipment,  but 
for  the  entire  expected  life  of  the  building  or  the  automatic 
sprinkler  line.  Therefore  it  will  not  do  for  the  sprinkler  to  be 
made  of  a  oompnsition  of  metal  which  will  give  evidence  of  fa- 
tigue and  will  permit  the  parts  causing  the  sprinkler  to  operate 
snappilv  to  relax  in  their  vigilance,  and.  in  due  course,  reach  a 
condition  where  tlie  sprinkler,  instead  of  operating  at  a  low  de- 
gree of  heat,  will  fvperate  only  ni  a  much  higher  room  temper- 
ature. Such  a  slowness  in  the  operation  of  automatic  sprink- 
lers results  in  only  one  or  two  or  three  sprinklers  opening.  We 
have  then  the  condition  where  perhaps  one  hundred  heads  would 
l)e  ii])i'n  wliile  with  a  nominal  or  standard  device  we  would 
expect  two  (ir  three  to  control  a  fire. 

Another  very  impnrta'iit  item  which  is  given  consideration 
in  our  analysis  of  >prinkler  fittings  is  the  precaution  taken  in 
its  ilesign  to  prevent  iniproi)er  or  immature  opening.  You  are 
all  familiar  with  the  fact  that  most  insurance  companies  carry 
what  is  known  as  "sprinkler  leakage."  One  of  the  things  to  be 
guarded  against  where  the  property  i-  of  great  value,  or  the 
contents  thereof  arc  valuable,  is  the  unnecessary  opening  of  an 
automatic  sprinkler  and  the  drenching  of  the  contents  with  wa- 
ter when  no  fire  has  taken  i)lace.  Such  occurrences  luive  not 
been  infrequent  in  the  past,  but  with  improved  heads  they  are 
becoming  less  and  less  so. 

To  sum  up.  1  will  repeat  for  .Mr.  Shai)ley's  information  and, 
I  hope,  for  his  repetition  wherever  there  is  an  occasion,  that 
the  only  thing  that  will  restrain  L'nderwriters"  l,alK>ratories  from 
giving  the  manufacturer  its  approval  i>  the  fact  that  the  de- 
vice is  founit  by  test  to  fail  to  perform  as  it  is  ex])ecte(l  to  perform. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  very  glad  indeed  to  have  re- 
ceived th''^  exijlanation  from  Mr.  Small. 

82 


I  would  now  call  upon  Mr.  W.  X.  \an  Camp,  ex-officio 
State  Fire  Marshal  of  South  Dakota,  to  read  his  paper  entitled, 
"The  Ultimate  .Solution  of  Fire  Prevention  is  the  Cnild." 

THE  ULTIMATE  SOLUTION  OF  FIRE  PREVENTION  IS 

THE  CHILD. 

Mr.  Van  Camp:  The  needles-'  destruction  of  property  by 
fire  is  second  in  importance  only  to  the  needless  destruction  of 
life.  I'ire  prevention,  like  any  other  great  movem^'nt,  appears 
to  li,;\  t'  l)een  slow  in  securing  a  permanent  f<x)thold.  and  the  fire 
prcvtuiiunist  has.  in  the  past,  been  looked  upon  as  a  sort  of  a 
harmless  crank  who  was  trying  to  change  the  order  of  things 
with  little  hope  of  accomplishing  anything. 

.\s  in  any  other  progressive  movement,  there  have  been 
times  of  <li>t.  .uragement  and  while  the  annual  fire  waste  in  this 
country  i<  still  appalling,  we  may  be  sure  that  without  the 
splendid  work  that  has  been  done,  it  would  he  much  greater 
than  it  is. 

In  Stiui!:  Oakota  we  have  had  wonderful  co-operation  from 
si»  many  diifereht  lines  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  enum- 
erate them.  The  splendid  work  done  by  the  more  than  fortv 
special  agent-  of  the  various  insurance  companies,  whose  ser- 
vices were  secureo  through  the  National  Board  of  Fire  I'nder- 
writer^,  has  ^,lved  us  and  the  nation  many  hundred  thousands 
of  dollars.  They  are  educating  the  people  so  that  you  seldom 
hear  that  because  property  is  insured  there  is  no  loss.  In  doing 
this,  fire  preventionists  have  emphasized  a  great  lesson  learned 
from  the  World  War  which  was  so  recently  closed  by  the  sign- 
ing of  the  treaty  of  peace,  that  the  wasteful  habits  of  the  na- 
tion ca^n tt  longer  be  condoned. 

The  newspapers  of  the  state  have  furnished  much  space  free 
of  charge,  and  the  doctrine  of  fire  prevention  by  cartoons  and 
printed  story  has  been  effectively  carried  to  every  r.ewspaper 
reader  of  the  state,  and  thousands  of  people  have  been  reached 
liy  the  use  of  slides  in  moving  picture  shows. 

Through  the  co-operation  of  the  State  Hducational  depart- 
ment the  teaching  of  fire  prevention  is  required  in  the  schools 
of  the  state,  this  subject  being  one  of  the  subjects  required  in 
the  state  course  of  study. 

During  the  year  we  have  sent  to  the  various  .schools  of  the 
state  more  than  seventy  thousand  pieces  of  printed  matter  re- 
lating t' "  fire   prt'vention.      In   adilition   to  this,   we   sent  t,>   the 


«.? 


Covinty  Superintendents  home  inspection  blanks  for  use  in  the 
schools  in  the  several  counties  and  many  thousands  of  these 
have  been  received  in  the  department  made  out  by  tiie  various 
pupils  from  over  the  state.  It  is  very  interestinfj  to  read  over 
these  inspection  blanks  made  out  by  the  boys  and  girls  of  the 
state  and  some  of  the  answers  given  in  reply  t.i  some  of  the 
questions  asked  are  humorous  indeed.  These  blanks  were  sub- 
mitted to  all  of  the  children  in  the  school,  many  of  them  taking 
them  home,  while  some  of  them  were  made  out  on  their  desks 
at  school. 

In  reply  to  the  question  "How  would  you  notify  the  Fire 
department  in  case  of  fire?"  one  young  hopeful  said.  "I  would 
yell." 

In  reply  to  the  question  "What  would  you  do  in  case  you 
discovered  your  house  to  be  on  fire?"  the  same  boy  said.  "I'd 
I)Ut  it  out  if  possible,  if  not,  beat  it."  A  youngster  wlien  asked 
what  he  would  do  in  case  the  house  was  discovered  to  be  on 
fire,  wrote:  "Fight  it  like  hell."  .\nother  one  said.  "Try  and 
save  our  lives  first,  then  save  the  household  goods."  Another 
said,  "I  would  watch  it  burn."  and  another  one  .said,  "1  w-uld 
run ;"  another  one  said  that  if  he  discovered  the  house  to  be 
on  fire  he  would  tell  mama  and  papa;  another  one  said  he  woub' 
do  the  best  he  could ;  another  one  said,  "Get  my  little  brothers 
and  sisters  and  run  to  a  safe  place."  A  boy  from  west  of  the 
river  said  he  would  try  to  kill  the  fire  and  save  all  he  could,  but 
that  a  sod  house  did  not  catch  fire  very  often.  Yet  another  one 
.said  that  he  would  leave  the  house  after  he  got  his  parents,  broth- 
ers and  sisters  out. 

The  fire  waste  is  gt)ing  to  be  reduced  very  materially  by 
the  oncoming  and  succeeding  generation.  .Ml  great  movements 
of  the  past  have  been  successful  when  they  began  at  the  bottom 
and  worked  up.  When  they  began  with  a  campaign  of  educa- 
tion their  ultimate  success  was  insured.  Take  the  prohibitum 
movement,  for  instance.  Years  ago  isolated  speakers  were  going 
around  over  the  country  advocating  prohibition  without  re- 
sults. Finally  the  evil  effects  of  the  use  of  alcoholic  drinks  was 
taught  in  the  public  schools.  It  was  taught  to  the  people  through 
the  moving  picture  shows,  with  the  result  that  when  the  chil- 
dren, who  .studied  the  evil  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks  when  they 
were  in  school,  grew  to  manhood  and  vvomanhrxKi  the  drink 
evil  was  abolished. 

Tncrc  arc  a  iiunii»ii  oi  iMK/k.-"  on  J'lif  [■reveiilion  liuu  can 
be  secured.     We  have  examined  and  can  indorsr:     "Tlif  Avoid- 

«4 


^i 


aiK-e  of  Fires"  l,.v  A.  I).  Weeks  (D.  C.  Heatl.  &  Company,  FHib- 
hshers,  Chicago);  "Uncle  Jim  the  Fire  Chief  bv  A.  O.  Rosser 
(Southern  I'ublishinyr  Co.,  Dallas.  Texas);  "Firebrands"  by 
Frank  E.  Martin  and  George  M.  Davis  ( Little,  r.rown  &  Com- 
pany, Publishers,  Boston);  "Fire  Prevention  Lessons"  bv  Fire 
Commissioner  Robert  Adamson  of  New  \  ork  City  t  published 
by  Fire  Prevention  Bureau,  N'eu  >,.rk  Fire  Department);  "Fire 
Preventi<m  Text  I'.ook"  by  C.  A.  Randall.  Chief  Deputy  Fire 
Commissioner  for  Xebraska :  "Makin-  Schocts  Safe  From'  Fire" 
by  Chi^f  Gueriii  of  New  York  City "(  Published  bv  the  Pyrene 
Mfg.  Co.,  Xew  Y..rk);  "Fire  iVevetition  School'  Reader"  by 
the  Fire  Marshal  Department  of  Illinois;  "Dangers  and  Chem- 
istry of  Fire"  by  Clarence  Maris  of  (  )hio.  and  •>«feguarding  the 
Home  Against  'ire  "  by  th<-  Xationul  Board  ih  Fire  Underwrit- 
ers. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  .-in»i  Canada  are  sraduallv 
awakenms  to  the  stupendou>  tire  lo.sses  and  their  economic  sig- 
nificaiKc  IS  stimulating  public  meetings  on  thi-  most  important 
subject.  Chambers  of  Commerce.  Roanl-.  ,  Trade  and  other 
business  and  pntessionai  r-anizations.  olleges.  churches, 
schnols  and  women's  clubs  mv  taking  up  tin-  subject  of  fire  pre- 
vention, seeking  informatioj-.  jxiii  advice  .i.-  to  how  to  best  pre- 
sent the  topic  in  order  to  awancen  interest  and  obtain  results. 

In  speaking  of  fire  waste.  I  think  we  oftentimes  lose  sight 
of  the  loss  of  life  connected  with  fire.  South  Dakota  is  a  pureiv 
agricultural  state,  no  large  cities  and  less  danger  from  fire  per 
haps  than  niany  of  the  states  of  the  Union.  Our  population  is 
small  and  scattered,  and  st,;;  i„  the  year  lust  closed  thirty-three 
lives  were  lo.st  by  hurniu-  to  death  T  le  deaths  from  fire  ir 
Scuth  Dakota  were  second  only  to  the  deaths  caused  bv  aut,- 
mobile  accidents,  there  hemg  thirty-me  krr  the  same' period 
due  to  that  cause.  Twcnty-twi.  Um  their  lives  l)v  accidental 
drowning,  twenty-two  killed  by  ra*t«ds  and  thirteen  by  fire- 
arms. The  loss  of  these  lives  cannot  be  measured  m  dollars 
and  cents  and  in  teaching  the  subject  of  fire  prevention  we 
should  emphasize  from  time  to  time  the  fact  that  manv  Ires 
are  lost  every  year  through  fire. 

The  year  of  I!)18  saw  all  line-  of  husmess  operated  under 

very  high  pressure,  which  may  have  had  a  great  deal  to  do  with 

the  very  great  fire  loss,  which  amoumcd  to  S317.00O,0O0  in  the 

nitct!  Slates  alone,      iliis  !■,  ati  awiai  inr.ease  since  the  year 

18!»0,  when  the  reported  fire  loss  was  sjiloo.ooit.Mno.     x,,  other  na- 

85 


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tion  in  the  world  could  stand  such  a  shameful  and  outrageous 
waste,  and  no  nation  can  stand  it  very  long. 

The  average  annual  fire  loss  of  the  European  countries  was, 
before  the  war,  less  than  thirty  cents  per  capita,  while  in  this 
country  last  year,  it  was  nearly  three  dollars  per  capita.  At  the 
same  time  we  are  spending  for  fire  prevention,  fire  proofing  and 
fire  extinction  more  than  three  times  the  amount  of  money  per 
capita  than  is  being  spent  in  the  European  countries.  Fully 
757o  of  the  fires  in  this  country  can  be  traced  directly  to  care- 
lessness and  crime.  It  is  very  clear  that  unless  the  public  con- 
science 'jcc  jmes  more  crystalized  against  fire  waste  in  general 
and  against  the  crime  of  arson  in  particular,  that  the  fire  waste 
in  thi>  country  will  continue  to  increase  in  the  same  alarming  de- 
gree. 

There  are  many  things  that  contribute  to  the  number  of 
fires  each  year.  Oftentimes  a  fire  is  an  advertisement  and 
helps  the  fire  insurance  business  by  bringing  in  applications  and 
commissions.  Over-insurance  is  a  large  factor  in  fires.  Oxer- 
insurance  increases  agents'  commissions  and  the  commissions  are 
are  never  consumed  in  the  fire. 

In  the  large  cities  arson  trusts  have  been  found  and  in  some 
cases  the  parties  who  have  sold  the  insurance  have  been  found 
to  be  instrumental  in  having  the  fires  set. 

There  is  no  crime  so  difficult  to  convict  of  as  the  crime 
of  arson.  Recently  an  Iowa  juror,  who  with  his  fellow  jury- 
men had  voted  to  acquit  a  fire-bug,  told  a  Deputy  Fire  Marshal, 
■'We  knew  he  was  guilty,  but  if  we  convicted  him,  how  could 
he  collect  his  insurance?"  \M>at  a  commentary  on  good  sense 
and  justice! 

A  fire-bug  arrested  in  Ohio,  in  order  to  avoid  duplicate 
sentences,  confessed  to  having  set  thirty-eight  fires.  One  in 
.Massachusetts  confessed  to  setting  forty-tliree  fires.  One  hun- 
dred and  five  were  indicted  in  a  recent  raid  on  IJoston  iire-bugs 
and  Massachusetts  has  as  good  a  reputation  as  any  of  the  states 
of  the  Union. 

.\  prominent  Cdurt  in  one  of  tlie  southern  states  has  ruled 
that  anv  person  has  the  right  to  burn  his  dwii  property  if  he 
does  n.it  attempt  to  collect  the  insurance.  Thus,  if  an  incen- 
diary is  caus^ht  in  the  act,  he  may  escape  prosecution  if  he  drops 
his  claim  against  the  insurance  company;  but  the  ninety  and 
nine  who  are  not  caught  proceed  to  collect  their  over-in-cr- 
ancc  on  their  doubtful  values  under  the  .sheltering  wing  of  pub- 

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lie  prejudice,  ami  the  premium  rates  .  f  the  insur.iue  companies 
must  he  kept  hi^:Ii  enough  so  tliat  the  companies  can  stand  the 
looting  they  are  compelled  to  suhmit  to  and  at  the  same  time 
pay  their  losses  an.!  a  reasonable  dividend.  When  we  under- 
stand the  terrible  fire  waste  it  is  really  remarkable  that  the 
companies  can  do  this.  If  it  were  possible  to  take  off  the  insur- 
ance from  all  the  risks  insured  so  that  not  a  dollars's  worth  of 
property  in  the  L'nited  States  were  insured,  the  United  States 
would  speedily  i)ecome  the  most  careful  nation  in  the  world  and 
the  .mtiual  fire  v.-.tste  would  almost  disappear. 

.\  waste  ui  .i>.{n,i .iioo  a  year  means  that  the  daily  fire  loss 

in  till'  Initcd  States  i>  nearly  -HIMKi.Odo.  Duriufj  every  hour  in 
Uie  day  i)roperty  to  the  value  «f  approximately  $;!K,()0(|  is  de- 
stroyed. Every  time  the  second  hand  of  your  watch  marks  a 
minute  $tl,n.t;i  goes  up  in  smoke.  Fifteen  hundred  business 
blocks  are  destroyed  every  day,  and  this  is  equal  to  a  town  of 
10,000  inhabitants. 

While  the  earth  revolves  once  on  its  axis  we  in  the  L'nited 
States  are  busy  trying  t(.  save  all  we  can  in  fifteen  hundred 
blazing'  buildings.  The  charred  remains  of  one  year's  fires  in 
this  country  would  line  both  sides  of  a  hijrhway  of  desolation 
one  thousand  miles  long.  Kvery  tiiree-quarters  of  a  mile  along 
this  road  there  would  be  a  ruin  in  which  some  human  being  had 
perished,  and  every  mile  of  the  way  would  represent  five  other 
people  burned  and  injrrcd  Of  all  this  frightful  loss  nearly 
eighty  per  cent  might  have  been  partly  or  wholly  prevented. 
In  this  matter  of  fires  we  are  the  one  and  only  prodigal  people 
—the  champions  of  a'l  'he  earth.  In  France  the  per  capita  fire 
loss  is  forty-nine  cents,  and  in  England  it  is  onlv  thirty-three 
cents.  Even  these  lo>ses  are  large  compared  w't>'  .  u.ifty 
Dutch,  in  Holland,  who  burn  up  only  eleven  ccim-*  sodM  of  p.  -p- 
erty  per  person  each  year.  The  average  of  ii;  t'.nr  oe  '-,  hss 
than  thirty  cents,  which  compares  with  our  $2.f;.i. 

We  Americans  talk  of  thrift  and  yet  throug;  pure  i-nf- 
lessness  we  burn  up  a  property  value  in  twelve  m  ■■.  b.s  •'.,.■ 
amounts  to  more  than  the  total  ])ri>duction  of  gold  in  lise  L'nited 
States  and  its  possessions  in  two  and  a  half  year.s.  Everyone 
knows  that  the  United  States  produces  an  cnormou.s  tomi  e  .• 
iron— last  year  the  output  was  nearly  forty  million  tons— and 
to  make  each  ton  of  this  metal  we  uso  up  more  than  one  ton  of 
coke.  Yet  the  total  value  of  all  the  coke  manufactured  in  the 
United  States  m    liilH   was  less  than   the   loss  of  the  nation  in 

87 


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If 

II 


preventable  fires.     If  we  could  stop  the  iire  loss  for  a   single 
day  we  could  build  several  large  hospitals  with  the  money  saved. 

It  is  not  possible  to  eliminate  all  the  fires  that  are  listed  as 
strictly  preventable.  But  we  can  travel  a  long  way  on  the  road 
to  improvement.  If  we  fixed  our  chimneys  and  flues  we  should 
cut  down  the  loss  six  per  cent.  If  we  were  careful  in  dispos- 
ing of  lighted  matches  we  should  save  a  further  three  and  a  half 
per  cent.  Carelessness  in  handling  cigars,  cigarettes  and  pipes 
causes  more  than  four  per  cent  of  our  blazes,  and  the  improper 
use  of  electricity  and  electrical  devices  adds  eight  per  cent  to 
our  fire  hazard.  The  shingle  roof  is  not  so  popular  as  it  once 
was,  but  it  is  sufficiently  common  in  many  localities  to  cause 
more  than  three  per  cent  of  all  fires.  The  question  is  no  longer 
one  of  mere  economics ;  it  is  a  vital  problem  requiring  national 
attention. 

Now  that  the  rush  of  war  is  no  more,  every  commercial  and 
industrial  concern  in  America  should  take  the  time  to  study  the 
situation  and  reduce  the  likelihood  of  a  preventable  fire.  Un- 
cleanliness  and  fire  hazard  go  hand  in  hand,  and  this  applies  to 
the  outside  as  well  as  to  the  inside  of  a  building.  Any  factory 
or  business  that  provides  an  example  of  poor  housekeeping  also 
furnishes  evidence  that  discipline  is  slack.  An  inspection  of  the 
plant  where  disorder  rules  generally  reveals  piles  of  litter  in 
every  out-of-the-way  corner.  There  are  usually  an  insufficient 
number  of  fire  escapes,  workmen  are  permitted  to  smoke  on 
duty  and  stairways  are  blocked.  Tlie  first  rule  of  fire  preven- 
tion is  to  clean  up  and  the  second  rule  is  to  stay  clean. 

However,  the  one  great  cause  that  deserves  the  largest 
share  of  our  attention  is  carelessness.  Were  it  not  for  this  vice 
there  would  be  only  a  dozen  fires  an  hour  in  the  United  States, 
whereas  now  there  is  one  each  minute.  Vienna  and  Chicago 
have  about  the  same  population.  The  fire  losses  in  Vienna  in 
1!»1H  were  $:K).i.-v'(m.     In  Chicago  that  year  they  were  $5,51,1,2.J7. 

It  costs  in  the  United  States,  in  addition  to  the  $;in,000,000 
fire  losi.  at  least  $l.i.'),00t),0()()  for  Fire  departments  and  up-keep 
and  fire  prevention  agencies,  or  in  round  numbers,  $450,000,000 
a  year,  which  is  a  fire  loss  of  $8,T.')2  a  minute. 

A  very  important  factor  in  the  winning  of  the  World  War 
was  gasoline  and  still  more  than  five  million  dollars  worth  of 
o-as^Hne  vva;  destroyed  by  fire  last  year  in  the  United  States 
alone.  The  price  of  ;t().000  aeroplanes  and  150  U-boat  destroy- 
ers went  up  in  the  smoke  of  careless  fires  la.->t  year.    The  United 

88 


States   smoko  ;!.(mm>  miles  of  cisaret^  a  cla\ .  an.l  tin-  burning 
stimM>s  cause  a  loss  of  .$S..".88.;iT.'i  a  year. 

The  fire  loss  in  th.-  Unite.I  States  would  pax  the  national 
(l^l)t  prior  U<  the  war  in  four  years  ami  each  vear  the  fire  loss 
vNuuia  imjTC  than  pay  the  salaries  of  all  the  school  teachers  in  the 
United  States. 

The  fire  loss  for  one  year  put  in  silver  dollars  side  by  side 
would  reach  5,577  miles;  put  in  one  dollar  bills  it  would  cover 
thirteen  and  one-half  square  miles,  and  the>e  placed  end  to  end 
would  reach  •.':..■)()(»  mile>  The  fire  loss  f-r  me  year  in  pen- 
nies  would  reach  eleven  times  around  the  eani.  and  then  across 
the  L'liite.l  States  and  back.  These  pennio  placed  in  piles 
would  make  mMH  piles  555  feet  high,  or  equal  to  the  height 
ol  the  Washington  niunument.  We  carelessly  burn  up  every 
year  the  interest  on  the  first  four  Libertv  loans  floated  in  the 
United  States. 

New  York  City  pays  $8,00(t.O0O  annually  for  it.s  Fire  depart- 
ment, and  only  ,$15,(»(Mi  for  fire  prevention. 

Each  year  the  fire  loss  exceeds  the  cost  of  both  the  army 
and  navy,  except  during  war  times ;  exceeds  the  pension  fund  and 
expenses  of  administration:  exceeds  the  United  States  postal 
service. 

The  fire  loss  in  ten  years  exceeds  the  amount  <,i  gold  held 
by  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great  Ilritain,  .Austria-Hungary.  Italv 
and  Spain. 

In  ten  years  the  fire  loss  is  $2(M),(I(ki  i„  excess  of  the  capital 
stock  of  all  the  national  bank,  in  this  country. 

In  ten  years  it  amouni>  to  seventy  -even  per  cent  of  the  to- 
tal annual  value  of  imported  merchandise. 

In  ten  years  it  amounts  to  sixty-six  per  cent  of  the  annual 
value  of  exported  merchandise. 

The  fire  loss  in  the  United  States  would  pav  for  the  build- 
ing and  subsequent  cost  of  operation  of  the  Panama  canal  in 
two  years. 

The  United  States  has  in  round  numbers  5-J5,()00  fires  a 
year,  orw:  for  every  minute,  or  one  for  every  two  hundred  people. 
Twenty  per  cent  of  Americas  fires  a're  due  to  contagion. 
I  hmk  of  it,  one  fire  in  five  originates  from  the  blaze  of  the  man 
next  door.  In  this  age  of  service  to  our  fellow  man  how  care- 
ful one  should  be  so  that  no  cnre!f<s  act  of  ours  cause  a  fire  that 
destroys  not  only  our  property,  hut  that  might  endanger  the 
property  and  life  of  our  neighbor.     .\  large  percentage  of  the 

89 


MICROCOPY   RESOLUTION   TEST   CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


_J  APPLIED  IM/IGE     Inc 

^^  165J    Eost    Mam    Stfeel 

r'.a:  Rochester.   New   YorV         1*609       USA 

^S  (716)    462  -  0300  -  Phone 

^S  (716)    288-  5989  -  Fax 


fires  grow  and  spread  on  account  of  inadequate  and  clogged  wa- 
ter mains.  Eight  per  cent  of  all  fires  in  this  country  are  due  to 
electricity.  Cheap  insulation,  amateur  wiring,  short  circuits 
and  arcs  are  the  cause  of  more  fires  than  the  old  kerosene  lamp. 

Poor  construction,  spontaneous  combustion,  rubbish  and  in- 
cendiarism are  also  frequent  causes  of  fires. 

Of  all  the  industrial  fires,  sixty  per  cent  break  out  at  night 
when  no  one  is  at  hand  to  fight  them. 

In  the  figures  given,  referring  to  the  annual  fire  waste  in 
this  country,  but  few  farm  fires  are  included,  and  we  might 
state  that  it  seems  impossible  to  find  a  way  to  get  statistics  re- 
ferring to  farm  fires. 

In  conclusion,  how  can  we  secure  better  results  in  spread- 
ing the  doctrine  of  fire  prevention?  If  we  will  work  together 
and  get  to  the  boys  and  girls  of  .America,  through  the  schools, 
and  educate  them  along  the  lines  of  fire  prevention,  there  is  no 
question  but  that  from  year  to  year  the  fire  loss  per  capita  on 
the  American  continent  will  compare  favorably  with  the  fire  loss 
per  capita  in  the  European  countries. 

Already  splendid  work  along  educational  lines  is  being  done 
by  the  Fire  Marshals  of  Xorih  Carolina,  Kansas.  Ohio.  Illinois 
and  Indiana,  and  I  might  name  the  rest  of  the  states  and  pro- 
vinces that  have  State  Fire  Marshals,  but  space  forbids. 

You  will  find  that  for  every  dollar  your  department  spends 
for  books  and  periodicals  to  be  distributed  among  the  scliool 
children  of  the  state,  you  will  get  returns  a  hundred  fold.  You 
will  find  that  the  columns  of  the  newspapers,  if  they  can  be  se- 
cured for  fire  prevention  articles,  will  bring  you  good  results. 
You  will  find  that  moving  picture  slides  showing  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  country  the  large  number  of  fires  caused  by  careless- 
ness and  how  they  can  be  prevented  by  using  careful  house- 
keeping methods,  will  bring  excellent  returns. 

Let  us  each  and  all  go  home  with  our  minds  made  up  that 
we  will  awaken  the  interest  of  the  teaching  fraternity  by  secur- 
ing places  on  the  program  of  the  different  educational  associa- 
tions that  meet  in  our  various  state's  and  provinces,  and  con- 
vince them  that  if  they  will  join  with  us  in  fighting  the  fire 
demon,  they  will  accomplish  something  second  only  in  magni- 
tude to  wiiat  was  accomplished  when,  through  the  efforts  of  edu- 
cation, practical  prohibition  was  brought  to  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  American  continent. 

Mr.  Shapley:     I  think  Mr.  \'an  Camp  has  laid  claim  to  a 

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championship  to  which  he  is  not  entitled  in  re<jard  to  fire  loss. 
I  think  Canada  can  beat  them  all. 

President  Fleming:  The  point  seems  to  me  to  be  rather 
well  taken,  for  as  Canada  has  led  the  way  in  so  many  admirable 
and  necessary  directions  it  stands  to  reason  that  she  should 
also  lead  the  way  in  the  matter  of  fire  losses.  (  Lauj^hter)  How- 
ever, there  are  very  few  things  that  we  in  the  States  yield  to 
Canada. 

We  feel  deeply  indebted  to  .Mr.  \'an  Camp  for  his  excel- 
lent paper.  I  have  much  pleasure  in  calling'  upon  Mr.  George 
H.  Nettleton.  State  Fire  Marshal  of  Minnesota,  to  lead  the  dis- 
cussion therc(jii. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Nettleton:  Mr.  President  and  tjemlemen,  I  think  that 
every  Fire  Marshal  should  make  a  strenuous  effort  to  have  tin 
subject  of  fire  prevention  introduced  into  the  public  schools 
of  his  state.  We  are  going  to  endeavor  to  do  this  in  the  state 
of  Minnesota.  We  have  a  new  Commissioner  of  Education  whom 
1  happen  to  know  very  well.  He  is  very  progressive,  and  I  think 
he  is  going  to  take  this  thing  in  hand  and  within  another  year 
have  the  subject  introduced  into  the  public  schools  of  Min- 
nesota. 

Recently  I  placed  an  order  with  the  .Vational  Hoard  for 
10,000  copies  of  their  booklet  entitled.  "Safeguarding  the  Home 
Against  Fire."  This  book  will  be  given  away  at  the  State  Fair 
this  year.  The  people  >vho  secure  a  copy  will  be  required  to 
give  their  names  and  addresses  in  order  that  we  may  send  them 
our  bulletin  as  it  is  published.  In  these  bulletins  we  will  run 
articles  that  will  appeal  to  children  as  well  as  to  adults. 

Everyone  should  feel  the  sense  of  personal  responsibility 
in  reference  to  preventing  fires.  The  child  should  be  made  to 
feel  that  the  responsibility  rests  on  him  just  as  much  as  it  does 
on  his  mother  or  father.  He  should  be  made  to  feel  that  there  is 
something  for  him  to  do — not  something  for  father  or  mother 
or  brother  or  sister  or  ])reacher  or  teacher  or  policeman  or  fire 
man  to  do ;  but  something  he  himself  is  to  do  to  protect  the  lives 
of  those  near  and  dear  to  him. 

We  must  do  everything  we  possibly  can  today,  tomorrow 
and  every  day  to  prevent  fires.  In  this  way  I  believe  in  a  few 
years  hence  we  will  be  able  to  overtake  the  progress  of  fire  in 
the  destruction  of  property  and  possibly  gain  on  it  instead  of 
having  the  fire  loss  gradually  increasing. 

91 


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President  Fleming:  I  think  it  is  well  understood  now  that 
the  best  avenue  throuj^h  which  to  seek  the  ultimate  results  in 
fire  prevention  is  through  the  child. 

I  will  now  call  upon  Mr.  F.  W.  Kubasta,  Assistant  State  Fire 
Marsha!  of  Wisconsin,  to  continue  the  discussion. 

Mr.  Kubasta:  Mr.  F'resident  and  gentlemen,  perhaps  one  of 
the  best  and  wisest  sages  the  American  continent  every  produced 
was  Benjamin  Franklin  and  he  said,  "You  cannot  teach  an  old 
dog  new  tricks."  and  also  something  to  the  effect  that  man  was 
a  bundle  of  careless  habits.  If  we  start  to  educate  the  child  when 
its  mind  is  at  the  absorbent  and  retentive  stage  the  best  results 
must  accrue.  We  made  an  attempt  in  Wisconsin  to  ascertain 
the  result  of  having  the  children  take  up  the  matter  of  fire  pre- 
vention. At  that  time  we  did  not  teach  it  in  the  schools,  but  we 
gave  a  prize  in  several  schools  in  several  cities  for  the  best  es- 
says on  fire  prevention.  At  that  time  the  state  of  Illinois  had 
a  very  fine  fire  prevention  book  and  our  children  procured  copies 
of  it.  At  the  national  convention  Mr.  Bennett  referred  to  the 
results  of  the  teaching  of  fire  prevention  in  the  schools  and  men- 
tioned the  case  of  a  fire  which  occurred  in  Illinois.  A  little 
boy  seven  years  old  was  left  at  home  with  the  baby  while  his 
mother  went  on  an  errand.  In  some  way  the  infant,  which  was 
just  able  to  creep,  got  near  the  stove  and  its  clothes  caught 
fire.  The  child  would  have  been  burned  to  death  if  the  little  boy 
had  not  remembered  some  of  the  fire  prevention  lessons  he  had 
been  taught  at  school.  He  rolled  the  baby  in  a  rug  and  saved 
its  life,  and  got  slightly  injured  himself. 

Referring  to  the  results  of  fire  prevention  so  far  as  essays 
are  concerned,  these  children  not  only  delved  into  the  Fire  Pre- 
vention Reader,  but  they  went  through  their  own  homes,  and 
1  will  warrant  they  talked  to  their  parents  about  the  conditions 
surrounding  their  own  premises  in  a  way  their  parents  had  never 
Ijeen  talked  to  before. 

We  got  our  Legislature  to  pass  an  act  requiring  that  one 
hour  per  week  be  devoted  to  the  teaching  of  fire  prevention  work 
in  the  schools.  We  would  like  to  have  that  act  amended  to  read 
"one  hour  per  day."  We  have  distributed  through  the  schools 
ITj.OOO  copies  of  a  booklet  dealing  with  fire  prevention  and  we 
are  receiving  requests  for  further  copies  from  the  children  indi- 
vidually, indicating  that  there  is  an  active  interest  being  cre- 
ated and  an  interest  which  will  live.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the 
fireman  is  the  best  man  to  teach  fire  prevention,  but  if  you  can 
get  a  teacher  who  can  put  snap  into  it,  you  will  get  almost  the 

92 


same  results  from  the  teacher  as  you  will  from  the  fireman  al- 
though, of  course,  the  hero  worship  is  al.sent-they  have  not  got 
the  hymg  model  before  them.  15y  seeking,  to  e.iucate  the  chil- 
dren m  .,re  prevention  you  will  ultimatelv  establish  universallv 
the  sense  of  personal,  individual  responsibilitv.  and  that  is  the 
ultimate  solution  of  fire  prevention,  the  making  of  the  individ- 
ual absolutely  responsible  for  the  cause  and  origin  of  a  fire 

President  Fleming:     I   might  say  that  in  Columbus.  Ohio 
a  most  spectacular  result  has  been   worked  out  quite  recentlv. 
-Mr    Beale  of  the  Fire  department  is  speciallv  adapted  for  this 
particular  work.     He  showed  his  ainlitv  in  addressin-^  a  num- 
ber of  the  rooms  in  the  different  .schoois  by  reque.st.     Immedi-. 
ately  thereafter  the  Chief  set  him   in  charge  of  that  particular 
work.    He  visits  the  schools  by  request  at  the  present  time     Im- 
mediately after  his  talk  to  the  children  an  essay  is  called  for. 
and  the  best  of  these  essays  are  secured  and  turned  over  to  Mr 
wrJr^  '^''1^'^''-    -^fter  Mr.  Beale  has  read  them  he  selects 
what  he  considers  to  be  the  very  best  essav  and  turns  it  over  to 
me.     After  we  have  subjected  each  essay  to  a  careful  examina- 
tion the  department  sends  out  to  those  children  who  wrote  the 
best  essays   on  the  subject  a  very  courteous   letter  of  thanks 
and  you  would  be  surprised  to  know  how  much  real  fruitage 
here  is  m  that  particular  work  and  how  thev  will  strive  to  ob- 
tain recognition  from  the  State  Fire  Marshal';  office  in  the  form 
oi  a  letter. 

1   vvill  now  call  upon  your  Secretary-Treasurer.  Mr    lohn 
titled .      New  Fields  for  Development  of  Fire  Prevention.'' 

NEW  FIELDS  FOR  DEVELOPMENT  OF  FIRE  PRE 

VENTION. 

Mr.  Gamber:  Any  new  effort,  or  anv  extension  in  the  scope 
of  any  wo-  nist  be  justified  by  some  outstanding  need,  callin- 
tor  the  exj..  ..nture  of  energy  along  certain  lines.  This  subiec'^t 
then  divides  it.self  into  two  parts:  First,  what  is  the  need  for 
development  of  new  fields  of  fire  prevention  activities,  and  sec- 
ond, what  are  the  fields  which  must  be  developed  to  meet  that 

What  is  the  need  for  development  of  new  fields  of  fire  pre- 
vention? <-  I'lt. 

I  have  been  paying  considerable  attention  in  Illinois  to  the 
local  ire  problems  of  the  various  cities.  1  have  become  impressed 
with  the  fact  that  the  annual  fire  loss-great  as  it  is  and  calling 

93 


for  every  possible  fire  prevention  effort— is  but  a  small  part  of 
the  cost  of  fires  from  a  community,  economic  standpoint.  This 
has  been  brought  out  forcibly  in  the  last  few  months  when  some 
of  our  cities,  because  of  the  high  cost  of  wages  and  commodities 
nf  every  sort,  have  been  oblicjed  to  curtail  their  fire  fighting 
forces  and  equipment  to  sta^        thin  their  revenues. 

Our  problems  in  Illinois  a.e  similar  to  the  problems  of  cities 
of  other  states.  Millions  of  dollars  are  invested  in  fire  stations 
and  equipment  in  American  cities.  Millions  more  are  expended 
annually  for  maintenance.  If  anything  like  the  actual  cost  of 
fires  to  .\nierican  cities  is  to  be  arrived  at.  these  items  of  invest- 
ment and  maintenance  must  be  considered  along  with  the  cost 
of  the  annual  fire  waste. 

With  the  p'lrpose  of  getting  an  idea  as  to  what  this  cost  is 
tc^  representative  .American  cities,  I  wrote  recently  to  the  Fire 
Chief  of  the  largest  city  in  every  state  and  asked  him  to  fill  out 
a  blank  showing  the  following  things : 

(1)  .Amount  of  money  invested  in  buildings  and  grounds 
and  equipment. 

(2)  The  total  cost  of  maintenance  in  1!>18. 

(3)  The  total  fire  loss  for  1918. 

I  asked  also  for  considerable  detailed  information  along 
these  lines.  Practically  complete  information  was  secured  from 
forty-two  cities,  while  all  but  one  of  the  remainder  furnished 
partial  information. 

The  figures  were  tabulated  and.  using  estimates  of  popula- 
tion furnished  by  local  Chiefs,  I  reduced  to  a  per  capita  basis 
the  cost  of  the  investment,  cost  of  maintenance  and  total  fire  loss. 
By  adding  together  these  three  per  capita  costs,  I  secured  a  very 
good  idea  of  wnat  fires  cost  these  cities  last  year  Before  reducing 
the  cost  of  maintenance  to  the  per  capita  basis,  I  added  interest 
on  the  investment  at  five  per  cent,  as  this  is  ]iropeily  an  annual 
charge  to  the  cost  of  maintenance.  Xo  effort  was  made  to  figure 
depreciation,  since  replacements  are  made  annually  out  of  gen- 
eral taxation  and  show  in  the  cost  of  upkeep. 

I  am  going  to  cite  the  showings  from  a  few  of  the  larger 
cities.  Let's  take  Chicago  first,  our  leading  mid-western  city. 
Chief  O'Connor  estimated  the  pojndation  at  2.700,000,  which  I 
believe  is  very  conservative.  The  "hicago  Fire  department  rep- 
resents an  investment  of  $4,r)40,2()8.  or  $1.(18  per  capita.  It  cost 
Chicago  last  year  for  maintenance  $;?.2;!8,.'U8.  Add  interest  on 
the  investment  at  five  per  cent,  itself  the  neat  litde  sum  of  $227,- 

94 


<'l.i  and  we  have  the  real  cost  of  maintenance.  $;i.!»;i8  .-,18  or 
?  .4..  per  capita.  Chicajvo's  fire  loss  last  year  was  $3,462,577'  or 
*1  28  per  capita.  By  addinR  tliese  tliree  per  capita  costs  to- 
^a-ther.  we  find  that  it  cost  Chicago  last  year  t,.  have  fires  $4  41 
for  every  man.  woman  and  child  of  its  almost  3,(K)0.n00  nopula- 
tion.  '    ^ 

r.ut  Chicago's  cost  was  very  moderate.  Let's  run  over  to 
the  I  ac.fu:  coast  and  take  Seattle.  Wash.  Seattle  has  a  popula- 
tion o  426.000.  Here  are  the  figures:  Total  investment.  $1.- 
4^0,332.  per  capita.  .S3.42;  cost  of  main.enance  in  1918  plus  in- 
terest on  mvestment,  .$l.()2ti,490,  per  capita.  $2.-10:  fire  loss  in 
I'n8.  $l.SO...OOO.  per  capita,  $4.24  :  total  cost.  $10.0.i  per  capita. 

Take  an  example  from  the  eastern  seaboard.  Xewark  X  T 
with  a  population  of  42-5,000.  The  investment  is  $1,44:5  o:r,  or 
a  per  capita  of  $3.39.  The  cost  of  maintenance  last  year  plus 
i"'";''  ','"  '}}'  ^"^■'^•''t'^ent.  was  $1,284,210.  or  a  per  capita  of 
$...2.  The  f,re  loss  in  1918  was  $2,.549,4«8.  or  a  per  capita  of 
•V>.>.|,  niakmg  the  total  per  capita  cost  $12.40. 

Just  one  more  example,  this  time  from  the  south.  Dallas, 
lexas,  has  a  population  of  130.000.  Its  investment  is  $618  775 
or  a  per  capita  of  $4.7r,.  The  cost  of  maintenance  last  year  plus 
Tu'llT.^^  investment,  was  $340,938,  or  a  per  capita  of  $2.02. 
The  1918  f,re  loss  was  $r.-,0,4(i8.  or  a  per  capita  of  $r,.77.  The 
total  per  capita  cost  reached  the  figure  of  $13.14. 

I  will  not  cite  further  illustrations.  I  will  submit  the  com- 
plete table  as  an  exhibit,  with  the  suggestion  that  it  be  printed 
in  the  proceedings  of  the  convention,  that  vou  may  examine  it 
at  your  leisure.  For  the  present  I  will  merelv  summarize  in  or- 
der to  give  you  a  concrete  idea  of  how  expensive  fires  and  fire 
protection  are  to  most  of  our  cities. 

Of  the  forty-two  cities  from  which  complete  figures  were 
obtained,  all  but  one  had  a  per  capita  cost  of  more  than  $3  on 
the  basis  outlin  .  above.  In  thirty-eight  cities  the  figure  ex- 
ceeded $4.  In  thirty-one  it  was  more  than  $5.  In  twenty-five 
It  was  in  excess  of  $0.  In  eighteen  it  was  more  than  $7.  Four- 
teen cities  paid  a  bill  of  more  than  $8.  In  eleven  the  toll 
exceeded  $9.  In  eight  it  was  more  than  $10.  In  six  it  was  in 
excess  of  $12.  In  three  it  was  more  than  $13,  while  in  one  the 
cost  passed  the  $14  mark. 

The  only  city  with  a  per  capita  cost  of  less  than  $3  was  Al- 
buquerque. N.  M..  which  had  the  remarkablv  low  ligurc  of  $1  73 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  was  at  the  other  extreme  with  the  exceptionally 
high  figure  of  $17.13. 

95 


It  m,t;ht  he  int.Tcsting  to  note  in  passinfj  that  the  alaries 
ot  tiremen  alone  amount  to  more  than  $1  per  capita  in  three- 
fourths  of  the  cities  in  this  list. 

It  also  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  fissures  cited  re,.- 
resent  c  -ts  last  year.  Since  then  there  have  been  increa-..  „f 
at  least  thirty-five  to  fifty  ])er  cent. 

I  made  an  effort,  for 'comparative  purposes,  to  secure  figures 
from  the  ieadmg  foreign  cities,  since  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that 
foreign  countries  are  much  more  stringent  in  regard  to  fire  pre- 
vention measures  than  is  America.  I  .vas  able  to  serure  Mie  fi..- 
ures  only  from  Stockholm.  Sweden.  This  citv.  with  a  popula- 
tion of  4i;i.(i()(..  has  a  per  capita  investment  of  $1.4.-.  had  a  per 
capita  maintenance  expense  last  year  of  $1.0,;  and  a  per  capita 
fire  loss  of  $l.->.{,  or  a  total  per  capita  cost  of  $;!.r4.  Onlv  three 
of  the  .American  cities  questionnaired  had  as  low  a  cost  'as  this 
and  they  were  cities  of  14.(100  to  (l().(Mio_Sheridan.  W  voming 
-\II)U(|uerciue.  .\.  M..  and  Huntington.  W.  Va. 

It  occurred  to  me  that  it  might  al.^o  be  interesting  to  know 
m  connection  with  these  figures,  what  fire  protection  is  cjstino 
us  from  anotiier  angle— the  insurance  cost.  I  was  successful 
in  obtaining  figures  as  to  the  aggregate  premiums  collected  bv 
fire  insurance  companies  la^^t  year  from  the  insurance  depart- 
ments of  thirty-six  states.  The.e  were  reduced  to  a  per  capita 
basis  by  use  of  the  latest  population  estimates  of  the  federal  cen- 
sus bureau  for  the  various  states. 

I  found  that  the  cost  of  insurance  protection  last  vear  rang- 
ed from  $2.1H  per  capita  in  \ew  Mexico  to  $l;i.:i.s"in  Rhode 
Island.    The  range  of  costs  summarized  was : 

$^  to  $J — Four  states. 

$o  to  $4 — Eight  states. 

$4  to  $.i — Six  states. 

$-->  to  $(! — Eight  .'-tates. 

$(!  to  $7 — Four  states. 

$:   to  .$8— Two  states. 

>:s  to  $9— One  state. 

$9  to  $10— One  state. 

$10  to  $li_One  state. 

Over  $i;j— One  state. 

I  will  submit  the  detailed  table  of  insurance  premium  fig- 
ures as  an  exhibit  along  with  the  other  table. 

You  can  consider  these  two  tables  separatelv  or  in  conjunc- 
tion with  each  other.  If  you  consider  them  in  conjunction  with 
each  other,  you  will  add  to  the  per  capita  investment  and  main- 

96 


; 


WHAT  IT  COST  AMERICAN  CITIES  TO  HAVE  FIRES  AM" 

Table  ihowing  (a)  money  invcited  in  (ire  rtationi  (buildingt  and  groundi)  and  cquipruent  in  the  largest  or  one  oi  the  largest  cities  in  e, 

tiers  to  per  capita  basis.    Figurtt,  including  population  estimate,  supplied  by  Chiefs  of  the  rtspcctive  Fire  ^. 


Malt 


Citv 


vlahiiina     liiriiiin«li.iiii    . 

Arizona    Phoenix    

Arkansas    - Little    Rock 

Calif.irnia  Los  AnRelcs  . 

C^loradii    Denver    

C'onncctKUt  New   Haven 

Delaware    \VilininKI<m   

District  uf  Columbia  WashinKli>n  

ll.irida    Jacksonville   

Deorxia    .Atlanta       

Idaho    Boise    

Illinois  ChlcaRo    

linliina  ..Indianapolis  

l,iuu    Dcs  Moines  

Kansas    Kansas  City 

Kentucky   Louisville 

Louisiana  New  Orleans 

M.iiiK-    Portland   

Maryland  Baltimore   

Massacluifetts    Boston 

MicliiRan    Detroit    

Minnesota    Minneapolis   

Mississijipi    Jackson   

Missouri  St.  Louis  

Montana  Butte   

Nebraska  ...^ Omaha    

.Nevada   ...  * Reno    

New  Hampshire .Manchester    

.New  Jersey  Newark 

New  Mexico AII)U(|uerinie 

New   York  New    York 

North   Carolina  W'ilminRton  

North  Dakota  Kargo     

<     io    Cleveland    

'Oklahoma    Oklahoma  City 

Oregon    ...Portland    

Pennsylvania    Philadelphia    .. . 

Rhode   Island   Providence    

South  Carolina  Charleston     

South  Dakota  Sioux    Falls   . 

Tennessee  Memphis 

Texas Dallas    

Ltah Salt  Lake  City 

\  irffinia Richmond  

W  ashiiiHton    Seattle  

West    \  irginia   ...HuntinBton     . 

Wisconsin    Milwaukee 

'A  voniinK  Sheridan    

Foreign 
>we(Ien   Stockholm     


1 

1 

.; 

4 

.i 

0 

7 

8 

0 

111 

oji.  City 

No.  Kire 

.No.  Pieces 

CosI   Cil 

Cost  of 

Total 

Interest 

Per  Capita 

Firemen 

Salaries  K 

p.iir'.  an 

Stations 

Kcpiipment 

Station - 

l!i|uipnient 

Invested 

5'f 

Invested 

Employed 

Firemenk. 

plnTinc 

21(>,0tMI 

Ji) 

35 

*  llK.'.=y 

5:  2S(<.M1i 

$  374.8( 

$  18.743 

$  1.73 

130 

$145,91.S 

*  15.3''3 

Ji.tX") 

.1 

10 

2.^1  «K1 

3').300 

64..100 

3.215 

2.01 

26 

33.')H0 

4  l).S7 

70.000 

/ 

14 

10r,3!j 

IJl.O'JO 

229.002 

11.450 

3.27 

50 

54..st,4 

I  80s 

750.0(X) 

40 

117 

XiH.M' 

o.>«.257 

1.516.923 

75.84f> 

2.02 

6'I0 

"92,025 

42„li|'i 

2(>«.00<> 

JO 

3 

27'».140 

135.485 

414.625 

20,731 

1.54 

JJ8 

.>oi;; 

177.000 

1.? 

32 

2<»7  2y> 

i'l.-l'Ht 

(M.25\ 

33.4(.2 

3.78 

170 

245.434 

.UK  10 

1  lO.OOO 

12 

26 

250,01)0 

100.000 

350.000 

17,500 

3.18 

900 

.=;0.(M)( 

450.000 

40 

108 

S44,0"(i 

fy90.H25 

1  ..534,901 

76,745 

3.41 

503 

1(1,000 

90,000 

7 

17 

175.000 

IW.OOO 

3()0.a')0 

18,000 

4.00 

102 

12').,S.L' 

.s  8.s2 

225,000 

15 

29 

433.400 

211.125 

(^44.525 

32,220 

2.W. 

210 

l.'"'.4,5( 

30,000 

4 

9 

1" 

VrriYM, 

79,018 

3.9.S0 

2.63 

32 

.W,(.7.' 

.\7.5J 

,700.000 

142 

373 

2,4^            .'S 

2,059,f>40 

4,540  2f* 

227,013 

1.68 

1,974 

3.2.58,3 1« 

1. so.  114 

300.000 

31 

69 

223.054 

11,152 

0.74 

36^ 

418,8')"> 

115.(XX) 

15 

26 

237.6V3 

202,420 

440,113 

22.005 

3.82 

12/ 

177.000 

7,0()< 

100,000 

9 

19 

1 19.452 

73.876 

193.328 

0,666 

1.93 

112 

119..S20 

8,<I74 

300,(XXt 

28 

75 

770,  .i45 

.'80,000 

1.05O..545 

.52.527 

3.50 

293 

323.HH 

128,081 

339.0<X) 

54 

59 

(W.OOl) 

7oo.oa» 

1.3a).000 

65.000 

3.83 

456 

(.3.000 

.1 

29 

175.0(JO 

171,687 

J46.f»87 

17.334 

5.50 

218 

119..VV. 

10,7.S4 

850,000 

53 

196 

1.057,1.'.' 

1,240.210 

2.2<)7,332 

114.866 

2.70 

797 

742.557 

,UI,,S4( 

794,000 

62 

150 

2.2()5..'(I0 

1 13,260 

2.85 

1,200 

1.6.56,282 

KX.7'1-, 

'>60,000 

62 

162 

1.120,837 

2,8-    :ol 

3,995,998 

199,79'J 

4.16 

812 

1.217,260 

40,UK 

415,800 

31 

93 

675.000 

.190,000 

1,065,000 

53,250 

2.56 

:oo 

63  ,030 

HMXX 

27,000 

4 

9 

47,1.^4 

69.346 

116,500 

5.S25 

4.31 

Z2 

29,856 

108 

905,700 

50 

1«9 

;.O30,(yj2 

(lOO.OCX) 

1,630,662 

81.J33 

1.80 

■     843 

1.144,672 

85,0tKJ 

90,000 

4 

/ 

M.m 

142.061 

203,561 

10,178 

2.26 

53 

93.718 

235,000 

2i 

.V) 

514„v0 

l'.»(i.585 

711. 13S 

35.556 

3.02 

306 

372,430 

3,500 

15.000 

3 

/ 

32,K.IS 

49..S0O 

82.3.38 

•<.116 

5.48 

20 

27.9(M 

SS.OOO 

10 

34 

.'OU,lWtl 

230.00<l 

4,50.000 

21,500 

5.05 

170 

146.687 

4,Ml5 

425,000 

34 

69 

>S82,4X7 

560,588 

1,443,075 

72.153 

3.39 

555 

937.853 

274,203 

27,000 

3 

19,725 

19,725 

986 

0.73 

11 

13.448 

1.8(vl 

,000.000 

300 

/"HO 

5,000 

8.612.570 

40,000 

4 

1.' 

55,000 

75.000 

130,000 

6..^X) 

3.25 

35 

36,510 

2.500 

25.000 

/ 

50(110 

40.000 

90,00(> 

4.500 

3.60 

20 

28,500 

.s(X. 

86'i.800 

.18 

90 

}<82„?07 

807.328 

l.(>89.635 

84,481 

1.94 

Ml 

855,000 

110.000 

10 

23 

176.41)0 

2.5O.00O 

426,400 

21,320 

3.87 

94 

110,600 

14.<«H 

311.. '.SO 

33 

39 

300,7)^1) 

4.q.'i67 

752,747 

37,637 

2.41 

393 

471.408 

10,573 

,750,{/Or) 

76 

201 

2.105.2.^3 

'.168.388 

.3.16.' 641 

158,18' 

1.80 

1,536 

1.730,500 

60,213 

259.500 

27 

87 

84'',50O 

42,475 

3.27 

300 

420.424 

42,295 

!  1)0.000 

11 

26 

f).'<,iKM; 

175,800 

243.800 

12,190 

2.43 

102 

78,668 

lo,048 

30,000 

) 

9 

woon 

(lO.OOO 

150.000 

7,500 

5.00 

17 

21.560 

2.'0 

145,000 

13 

27 

502.O00 

3f>2.00C 

864.000 

43,200 

5.95 

260 

262,053 

5.18" 

130,000 

16 

41 

41S.775 

.W.OOO 

618,775 

.30,938 

4.75 

214,000 

7,00c 

125,000 

6 

14 

125,0(Kt 

84,000 

2n').000 

10,450 

1.67 

86 

3.01! 

185,000 

22 

46 

360.iK)0 

8.000 

1.94 

208 

314.000 

426.400 

3o 

89 

l,072,4«<i 

.587,846 

1.460.332 

73,016 

3.42 

59>: 

816,628 

76.274 

(it),000 

.1 

10 

(i.i.OOi) 

30.000 

95.000 

4,750 

1.58 

_>7 

32,160 

;.o.^ 

505,230 

35 

80 

507,33(1 

ii35,995 

.,143.325 

57,166 

2.26 

550 

789,337 

48.57.' 

14.000 

1 

3 

9,7M 

12.925 

22,688 

1,134 

1.62 

7 

9.099 

21J 

413.000 


,•< 


31 


4<X).iHii 


.'00.000 


(mff/o 


30,000 


1.45 


243 


250,673         43,200 


*1     r.uililings  all  on  city  parks.    Lots  not  included  in  total  investment. 

'2    Volunteer  department.     No  paid  firemen. 

'3     Replacement,  ai.  1  hence  maintenance,  cost  high  in  1918  hccause  of  motorization 

department. 
*4     Full  per  capita  cannot  be  given,  as  cost  of  buildings  and  grounds  is  missing. 


Cost  of  equipirent  not  specified.    Looks  as  if  it  were  included  in  cost  of 
Investment  includes  water  supply:  $1,500  for  building  and  site,  and  $1,3 

personal  property. 
Lives  lost  include  all  who  met  death  from  burning.     In  other  cities  tol 

only  deaths  in  fires  to  which  department  responded. 
One  station  rented  at  $150  a  year.   Other  in  city  hall. 


ANH  FIGHT  FIRES  IN  1918. 


COM  of  Ruintcnmncc  in  1918;  and  (c)  fire  Iom  for  1918,  with  rcduc- 
1.    fable  prtparad  by  John  O.  Oambcr. 


Ill 

11 

IJ 

13 

14 

15 

10 

17 

Ki  p.ur.  .111(1 

l.iUlCoit 

Adil  lilt,  on 

I'vr  Capita 

No.  of 

Lins 

Property 

Loss  Per 

Ki-pl  HI  iiicnt 

MiintenaniTf 

Investment 

.Vlaintrnance 

Kires 

I.OH 

'<'»!*■* 

Capua 

$  15,.V<3 

s  21  (.,2 15 

$  234,9.58 

$   l.OK 

2,592 

1 

J  730,298 

$3.38 

4,l).^7 

48.267 

51.482 

I.Ol 

121 

U 

66,505 

2.07 

1,?<|»5 

100,637 

112.0K7 

1.00 

003 

2 

420.317 

6.00 

♦.'..Vm 

'»40.2.'0 

1.010,060 

1.35 

2,26'J 

3 

540,7j7 

0.72 

M>.\7; 

360,885 

381,610 

1.42 

1.125 

tl 

2^.291 

1.00 

.i.u;w 

201.234 

294,696 

1.00 

808 

1 

48'».015 

2.76 

?om> 

%,000 

113,500 

1.03 

250 

0 

50.000 

0.45 

1(..00() 

776,320 

853,065 

1.89 

1.525 

14 

2'»4.752 

0.65 

.\S.i.' 

169,762 

187,762 

2.08 

096 

0 

.'83.^44 

3.15 

l.'"'.45l) 

320,320 

352.54<) 

1.56 

1,253 

0 

310,85<) 

1.38 

5,;.'-' 

52,558 

56,508 

1.88 

112 

1) 

45.319 

1.51 

1.V).114 

3,711,505 

3,938,518 

1.45 

12,.336 

27 

3,4<)2.577 

1.28 

500.516 

511,668 

1.70 

2.724 

3 

2,049,908 

6.83 

7m) 

201.574 

223.579 

1.94 

1.180 

0 

753,896 

6.55 

H.')74 

139,199 

148.865 

1.48 

1.132 

2 

193,048 

1.93 

l.'S.OXO 

451,585 

504,112 

1.68 

1.053 

0 

385,424 

1.28 

596.672 

661,672 

1.95 

596 

3^.9,367 

1.09 

1(I.;.S4 

171,043 

188.377 

2.'» 

627 

1 

23.3,151 

3.70 

.ill.S4(. 

1,043.175 

1,158.041 

'36 

2,522 

20 

590,345 

0.69 

ss.r'i; 

.',221,381 

2,3.M,641 

2.94 

4,134 

1 

2,648,198 

3.33 

4().IKI(I 

1,961,160 

2,160,959 

2.25 

4,019 

2,670.261 

2.78 

KMKJII 

754.134 

807,384 

1.94 

2.881 

5 

1.139.590 

2.74 

IMS 

40.047 

45,872 

1.69 

ii2 

0 

48.287 

1.78 

,S5.0«)() 

1.225.079 

1,306.612 

1.44 

3.878 

45 

2.518,242 

2.78 

142.000 

152.178 

1.69 

338 

2 

55.697 

0.61 

3,500 

486,300 

521,856 

2.22 

1.112 

16 

50  .767 

2.13 

34,859 

38,975 

2.59 

68 

0 

18,606 

1.24 

4.HI5 

183,098 

204,598 

2.40 

453 

4 

•3.941 

1.10 

.'74..'(U 

1.212.057 

1,284,210 

3.0;; 

2,136 

3; 

2,^49.468 

5.99 

l.S<>4 

18,331 

19.317 

0.71 

134 

0 

7.843 

029 

10,000.000 

1.66 

15,000 

40 

9.000.(¥i0 

1.S0 

2,5(JO 

50260 

56,760 

1.41 

141 

1 

142,516 

3.56 

500 

30,000 

34,500 

1.38 

89 
3,344 

0 

32,000 
1,861.443 

1.28 
2.14 

U.iKH) 

150.000 

171,320 

1.55 

734 

0 

231.180 

2.10 

10,5/"3 

593.357 

630,994 

2.02 

1.230 

3 

385.000 

1.23 

t)0,:;i3 

.M68.et6 

2,326,998 

1.32 

4,796 

24 

4,214,675 

2.40 

4J,^y5 

594.14C 

636,621 

2.45 

1,844 

0 

590,914 

2.27 

\ti.')\t^ 

95.616 

107.806 

1.07 

236 

0 

72.795 

0.72 

.'.'0 

22.860 

30.360 

1.01 

125 

1 

228.778 

7.62 

5,187 

350.019 

393,219 

2.71 

1,670 

J 

I.22<).898 

8.47 

rm 

310.000 

345:938 

2.62 

800 

0 

750.468 

5.77 

3.611 

127.676 

138.126 

1.10 

436 

0 

IrtJ.OOO 

1.28 

339.000 

357.000 

1.93 

695 

5 

300.'«1 

1.98 

;(>,274 

953.474 

1.026.490 

2.40 

2,4«) 

0 

1,809,000 

4.24 

;.t)5(» 

39.960 

44,71(» 

0.74 

209 

3 

6->.596 

1.06 

48.57.' 

991.248 

1,048,414 

2.07 

2,140 

0 

1.052,176 

2.08 

JIJ 

11,119 

12,253 

0.87 

42 

0 

1,236 

0.09 

43.21IU 


ic  M 


S.T 


See  \t 


Sec  '4 


Sff  '5 
See  '6 


407,400 


437.400 


1.06 


954 


507,.,00 


1.23 


18 

Tol.  b>.  »"  Ci»"«    .\ 

(Add7, 13. 17) 
$  6.19 

5.69 
10.87 

4.09 

396 

8  20 

4.66 

5.95 

9.23 

5.80 

6.02 

4.41 

9.27 
12.31 

5.34 

6.46 

6.87 
12.19 

4.7. 

9.12 

9.19 

7.24 

7.78 

6.02 

4.56 

7.37 

9.31 

8.55 
12.40 

1.73 

3.16 

8.22 

6.26 

4.06 

7.52 

5.66 

5.52 

7.99 

4.22 
13.63 
17.13 
13.14 

4.05 

5.85 
10.06 

3.38 

6.41 

2.58 

3.74 


Sec 


So. 

See 


See 


10 


SlH-     '11 


in  cost  ot  ^tatlons. 
e,  and  $1,316,684  for 

•  cities  toll  includes 


*9     Full  per  capita  rannot  be  given,  as  cost  of  buildings  and  grounds  and  eqiiiiinunt 

is  mis:';ing. 
*10     I'ull  per  capita  cannot  be  given,  as  cos:  jf  maintenance  is  missing. 
*11     I'ull  per  capita  cannot  be  given,  as  cosi  of  equipment  is  missing. 
*12  Does  not  include  reciprocal  companies. 
*13  Figures  for  1917. 


What  Insurance  Cost  the  States 
in  1918. 

I.  le  «howir  '  aKKr>KJte  premiums  .••Mtcted  in  the 
viirious  SLifs  !>.,  Fire  In.-iirance  Companies  iii  1918,  with  re- 
iliictiiiii,  to  per  capita  basis.  Figure*  supplied  b>  Insurance 
t  ommissioners.  I'opulation  la^ed  on  latest  federal  esti- 
iii.ites     Table  prepared  by  John  O.  Camber. 


^tate  IN.p.  of 

State 

.Mabaiiia  2,395.270 

.\rizona    272.000 

\rkansas     1.793.000 

California 

Colorado    1.014.600 

Connecticut    1.28f).300 

Delaware   217.0)0 

l>ist.  Columbia 374,600 

Florida 

Georgia    2.935.600 

Idaho 461.800 

Illinois   6.317.800 

Indiana  2,854.200 

Iowa 

Kansas   1,874,200 

Kentucky 

Louisiana  1,884.800 

.Maine    782,200 

Maryland  1,384.500 

.Massachusetts    J.832,800 

.Michigan   3,133.700 

Minnesota  2,345,300 

Mississippi 

Missouri  J,448,500 

Montana 
.Nebraska 

Nevada  l.:,800 

.New  Hampshire 446,400 

New  Jers.y  3,080,400 

New  Mexico  437,000 

Niu    York  10,647.000 

Xci.  Caroliii^ 

No.  Dakota  791.400 

Uhio 
Oklahoma 

Oregon  888,200 

Pennsylvania    8,798.100 

Rhode  Island  637,400 

So.  Carolina  1.660.900 

So.  Dakota 735.400 

Tennessee   2,321,300 

Texas 

Utah    453,600 

Virginia   2,234,000 

Washington 

VV.  Virginia 1,439,200 

Wisconsin 

Wyoming 190,400 

Vermont _ 366,200 


Premiums 
Collected 

Premiums  Note 
Per  Capita 

$5,882,742 
1,752,559 
5,.535,576 

$2.41 
6.44 
3.08 

5,236,319 

12,071,543 

1,155,253 

1,195,718 

5.16 
9.38 
S.32 
3.19 

8,050,544 

2.282,664 

39,5/1,737 

11,802,141 

2.74 
4.94 
6.26 
4.13 

7,060,000 

3.76  See  *12 

7,553,597 

5,642,424 

7.396,715 

33,302.884 

14749,4'^'» 

11.261.154 

4,01 
7.21 
5.34 
8.68 
4.71 
4.80 

14.33    741 


4.15 


617.37- 
4.885,9 
2O.026.(y3 

954.050 
S8.964.2W. 

5S 
10  a 

5    .,  See  »13 

3.084.435 

3*6 

o,3-:»3.547 
47.714,286 
S.52K.779 
5.219,2,5 
4,486,565 
7,454,733 

6.b 

3J\ 

1,185,634 
8,075,075 

2.61 
3.6. 

5,339,687 

3.71 

961,266 
2,038..- 96 

5.0i 
S.S6 

u 


tiiiatu-c  i-(.st  nf  any  city  Fin-  dcpartnu-nt  the  per  capita  itisur- 
anif  premium  lost  nf  the  ,t.-itc  in  which  that  city  is  Located. 
siiKc  it  is  thf  insurance  prtiniums  vvhicl-  ;>ay  the  Ii^sst-..  Tlii^ 
v.-..nl,!  f;i\c  a  very  fair  ..n.l  forcil.Ie  idea  of  whit  protection 
apainst  fires  and  protection  a;,'ainst  losses  are  costinR-. 

I'.nt.  from  wliativcr  iin-Ie  you  look  at  the  fij;ures,  ihe  iiitcr- 
eiM-  is  irre.-istil)Iy  the  same.  Tiie  cost  of  Iiavinj.  ,ires  in  Ameri- 
can cities  is  alto-ether  unreasonable  and  exhorhitant.  N'oit  will 
draw  the  same  e  nclusion  which  I  have  drawn:  That  there  i> 
a  pressing,'  need  lor  development  of  new  ulds  for  fire  preven- 
tion and  that  these  li<  ids  are  especially  i  opportunitv  and  re- 
sponsibility of  local,  community  lorces. 
\\  hat  are  these  new  fields  ? 

r.efore  i)roceedinjr  furtlie  •  I  want  to  take  occasion  to  pay 
a  tribute  to  the  l-ire  Chiefs  ..  .lis  country  and  their  men.  Tliev 
have  accomplished  great  thinj^^s  in  the  way  of  fire  prevention  and 
with  \ery  little  reward  in  the  way  of  recognition.  While  this 
agency  or  that  organization  has  been  taking  unto  itself  a  large 
amount  of  credit  for  results  in  the  field  of  tire  prevention,  the 
firemen  have  plodded  along  faithfully  and  diligently  in  their 
various  communities  with  scarcely  more  than  passing  attention 
being  accorded  them.  Their  hearts  and  souls  are  in  this  work 
and  we  may  look  lor  ever  increasing,  .'ffective  results  from  them. 
There  is  a  field  which  has  been  .scarcely  touched  and  I  know 
of  no  other  with  more  fruitful  possibilities  for  develoimien  I 
have  in  mind  the  field  occupied  by  the  local  agents  of  thv  ,- 
.surance  companies.  Here  arc  men  peculiarly  fitted  bv  the  , po- 
sition they  occupy  and  by  their  responsibility  both  to  tlieir  com- 
panies and  to  the  public,  for  this  great  vv<irk.  What  a  potent 
force  they  could  be  in  every  community! 

I  am  going  to  discuss  the  local  agent  first  from  the  viewpoint 
of  his  duty  to  his  company,  since  that,  of  course,  is  his  first  duty. 
If  he  owes  the  company  anything,  it  is  to  see  that  its  interests 
arc  protected  as  fully  as  possible  on  every  risk  he  writes.  This 
takes  in  both  the  moral  and  physical  ispects  of  the  risk. 

Consider  for  a  moment  the  moral  risk.  Over-insurance  is 
the  forerunner  of  the  crime  in  the  case  of  the  professional  ar- 
sonist and  the  temptation  to  commit  the  crime  in  the  case  of 
the  unscrupulous,  non-professional.  If  the  over-insurance  evil 
could  be  eliminated,  fraudulent  fires  would  be  reduced  to  a  min- 
mium.  \o  one  is  in  such  a  favorable  position  to  c)  .ck  this  evil 
as  the  IfK-al  agent. 

It  would  seem  then  to  be  the  first  duty  of  the  agent  to  see 

97 


that  values  are  as  represented  on  every  risk  he  is  asked  to  write. 
He  should  inspect  the  risk  as  a  matter  of  sound  business  prac- 
tice. If  necessary,  he  should  consult  with  the  banker  or  other 
person  who  is  familiar  with  the  financial  standing  of  the  pros- 
pective policy  holder.  No  successful  business  man  would  ac- 
cept or  guarantee  an  obligation  on  any  other  basis.  Through 
some  sort  of  follow-up  system,  he  should  keep  posted  on  his 
more  important  risks,  so  as  to  know  whether  the  values  are  be- 
ing kept  up  or  are  depreciating.  Especially  should  he  be  on 
guard  for  the  professional  arronist,  who  makes  a  showing  of 
values  or  prosperity  just  long  enough  to  secure  a  policy. 

It  would  not  be  so  hard  to  do  these  things  as  it  might  seem. 
The  local  agent  knows  the  people  of  his  community  or  neighbor- 
hood and  should  be  acquainted  with  the  doubtful  moral  risks. 
He  is  in  a  position  to  know,  through  his  own  business  standing 
in  the  community  and  through  his  confidential  relations  with  his 
banker,  when  a  good  moral  risk  becomes  an  unsafe  one  through 
the  vicissitudes  of  business.  He  ought  t(.  make  it  a  point  to 
keep  advised  as  to  the  affairs  of  the  strangers  who  move  in  and 
take  or  seek  a  large  sized  policy.  His  knowledge  of  the  tricks 
of  the  arsonist  and  of  human  nature  should  stand  him  in  good 
stead.  He  should  always  bear  in  mind  that  an  attempt  at  over- 
msurance  is  a  sure  cue  to  a  dangerous  risk. 

There  are  doubtless  many  good  agents  who  make  earnest 
efforts  along  this  line,  but  too  often  we  find  that  the  sole  aim  of 
the  agent  seems  to  be  to  write  as  large  n.  policy  as  possible  in 
order  to  increase  his  commission  on  the  premium,  with  the  qual- 
ity of  the  risk  his  second  consideration.  This,  of  course,  is  play- 
ing right  into  the  hands  of  the  crook.  .\nd  worse  still,  it  some- 
times happens  that  it  is  the  local  agent  who  makes  the  loudest 
protest  when  payment  of  a  claim  is  held  up,  pending  investiga- 
tion by  the  b'ire  Marshal,  doubtless  because  his  obsession  with 
the  idea  of  prompt  settlements  for  advertising  purposes  over- 
comes his  sense  of  discrimination. 

If  it  is  important  to  inspect  risks  as  to  values,  it  is  doubly 
important  to  inspect  them  as  to  physical  condition.  The  loss 
due  tc  incendiary  fires,  while  large,  is  but  a  small  percentage  of 
the  total  fire  loss.  Probably  !)0  per  cent  cf  the  total  fire  loss 
is  due  to  natural  causes,  and  a  good  part  of  it  is  directly  attrib- 
utable to  physical  hazards  which  should  not  exist. 

Not  so  long  ago  the  attention  of  our  department  was  called 
to  a  business  house  in  southern  Illinois.  We  found  that  elec- 
tric wiring  was  strung  all  over  the  place  like  so  much  clothes- 

98 


line,  with  scarcely  any  pretense  of  cleats  or  supports.  A  car- 
load of  old  boxes,  barrels  and  loose  paper  littered  the  basement. 
Things  could  not  have  been  arranged  more  beautifully  for  a  fire. 
And  the  insurance  policies  aggregated,  not  $4,000,  the  value  of 
the  properties  covered,  but  totaled  $10,000 ! 

Of  course,  we  find  such  flagrant  cases  only  occasionally, 
but  we  have  another  condition  which  is  more  general.    Our  de- 
5  partment  will  issue  an  order  for  the  removal  of  a  gasoline  en- 

1  gine  or  some  similar  hazard.     It  frequently  happens  that  we 

then   receive  a   letter   from   the   assured,   stating  that   his   local 

¥  agent  has  attached  a  gasoline  permit  clause  to  his  policy  and  has 

advised  him  that  the  order  of  our  department  should  be  with- 
drawn. Often  it  is  the  agent  himself  who  writes  and  asks  that 
the  order  be  revoked. 

I  believe  it  is  the  duty  of  every  agent  to  reject  every  risk 
where  flagrant  hazardous  conditions  are  found,  withholding  the 
policy  until  conditions  are  remedied.  He  should  penalize  ev- 
ery special  hazard  with  the  extra  charge,  where  the  extra  charge 
is  provided,  and  not  wink  at  these  special  hazards,  as  some 
agents  are  inclined  to  do. 

If  agents  generally  would  inspect  their  risks  and  act  in  ac 
cordance  with  the  suggestions  I  have  made,  I  believe  we  could 
look  for  a  very  sharj)  reduction  in  losses  immediately.  If  a  man 
fin(l.»  that  he  cannot  secure  insurance  or  that  the  premium  is 
goinjLj  to  he  excessive  because  of  the  hazards,  he  is  going  to  do 
something  about  the  hazards. 

Before  passing,  I  want  to  suggest  the  need  of  reinspections 
when  policies  are  renewed  and  in  certain  cases,  at  other  times. 
I  have  in  mind  particularly  a  class  of  risks  in  the  larger  cities. 
These  are  buildings  which  once  were  ideal  residence  properties 
but  which,  throUL:  1  industrial  or  social  transitions  in  the  districts 
in   which   they   are   located,   have  become   deteriorated   and   in 

^  many   cases   vacant   and  the   rendezvt)us  ot   tramps  and   worse. 

They  are  the  worst  sort  of  hazards  and  are  continually  the  scene 
of  fires.      In   many   cases  our  investigations   reveal   that   insur- 

j  ance  is  in  force  for  the  full,  original  amounts.     It  is  needless  to 

^  say  that  with  this  temptation  always  before  a  property  owner 

with  permanently  deiireciated  values  on  his  hands,  not  all  these 
fires  are  accidental.  If  the  agent  had  kept  fully  informed  as  to 
these  risks  and  had  taken  the  proper  action,  the  policies  would 
have  been  cancelled  long  since.  Rut  we  find  in  too  many  in- 
stan'-es  that  he  has  nnt  only  failed  to  do  this,  but  has  actually 
written  new  policies  on  buildings  which  are  scarcely  more  than 

99 


^:,::^  ^''^' "°  ^'"-p^-^-  --'^^  -->■  ^^  ^pp^i-.'  .^^  true 

I  new  come  to  my  second  point,  the  <lutv  ..f  the  local  -..^cPt 
to  the  assured  He  is  the  logical  advisor  of  the  assure.  •;". 
>l'.oul,l  act  as  h,s  fire  prevention  counsellor.  He  sh  uM  n  I  e 
niore  carc.ul  studv  of  the  schedules  and  familiarize  1  J  ;,h 
e  f.re  hazards  and  special  risks.  He  should  go  ovc.  t  e 
pa  nstak.ng,y  w.th  his  client,  advising  how  thev  ml-  be  reduced 
and  the  premium  lowered.  He  could  advise  wavs  of  in^proX' 
tl.  nsk  otherwise.  He  has  the  most  powerful' appeal  he  re  i: 
-the  appeal  to  the  pocketbook.  Furthermore,  no  honeVt  m,n 
can  afford  to  have  a  fire  and  the  assured  in  most  ca  e    w  11     p 

Finally,  because  he  is  in  the  insurance  business,  the  a-a-nt 
has  a  duty  to  the  public.  .,i„ce  it  is  the  public  which  pavs'^he 
premiums  which  sustain  the  lo..ses.  The  insurance  agen  |ou  d 
e  the  fire  prevention  leaders  in  their  communities.  Thev  shoidd 
f.  out  whether  their  local  building  codes  and  electric  w  ,  g 
ord  nances  are  as  effective  as  they  should  be.  whether  there  are 
ordinances   requiring   the   removal   of   rubbish    and   debris    and 

a?e  noT^d     "f"""^  '''  '''"^  '-^'  "P  ^-     '^  the  ore  i   an 
strive         t^      :  "•■  •""■'   ""'   '^'"^  ^""^P"'-'   ^-'^J^-   thev    should 
stn  e  to  have  them  made  adequate  and  enforced.     The'v  shou 
]n-     he   leaders  in   fire  prevention  and  clean-up  dav  campa  g. 
.n  their  communities,  working  constantly   for 'the  'educrtij 
the^people  along  more  advanced  ideas  of  fire  prevention  and  Iro- 

.lon^' thetf  '"";•  ''rT''  ''  ""'"^-^">'  '^  ---mplish  much 
along  these  lines.     I„  the  larger  communities  the  organization 

Made  up  of  the  most  substantial  and  influential  interests  of  the 

t,  and  dedicated  to  the  advancement  of  the  civic  welfare,  i 
the  most  potent  force  ,n  any  community.     If  its  governin-v  board 
were  apprised  of  the   need   for  fire  prevention  Inivitis. 
hey  would  mean  to  the  city  and  how  to  go  about  to  ,e    prac 
tu^^  resist,   an    effective   program    wotild    be    mope^ti,:/-. 

Here  then  is  the  big  opportunity  for  the  local  agents      The 
progressive    one.s    are  always  identified  with    their^hamber 
of  Commerce.     Their  advice  would  be  heeded  and  their  Iea<ler 
hip  accepted  the  same  as  in  the  case  of  other  interests,  which 

effor       HuVfV  T"'""'"'^  1  ^^^^'^"-'"-'^  through  communitv 
effort.    Hut  first  the  agents  themselves  must  awaken  to  the  pos'- 

100  ' 


IJ 


sibilitic-s    uhicl.    lie-   before   them    for  the   advancement   of   the 
cause. 

In  the  smaller  communities  the  loca!  a-ents  should  form 
local  unus,  nUeres^infr  influential  and  far-seeing  business  men  in 
the  work,  an.l  getting  live  fire  prevention  orjranizations  started 

I  have  tried  to  outline  in  a  general  way  the  possibilities  for 
effective  f,re  prevention  work  by  the  local  insurance  agents      J 
have  ma.lc  the  suggestions,  not  by  way  of  criticism  of  the    gents 
but  by  way  of  pointing  out  opportunities  as  I  see  them. 

Many  of  the  agents  no  doubt  are  grasping  these  oppor- 
tunities, but  the  real  inspiration  and  direction  will  have  to  come 
of  course,  from  the  company  managers  and  then  down  through 
the  specials  and  field  workers.  It  means  a  great  deal  of  edu- 
cational work  among  the  agents.  Agents  as  a  whole  must  be 
inspired  to  a  new  vision.  They  must  be  made  to  see  that  the 
man  who  shuns  the  poor  risks,  who  works  continuallv  for  the 
advancement  of  the  policy  holder  and  the  cause  of'  loss  re- 
duction in  his  community,  is  the  man  who  will  get  the  most  bus- 
iness and  the  best  business. 

The  managers  and  field  men  are  fullv  awake  to  the  possi- 
hihties  in  this  field.  Taken  as  a  whole,  there  are  no  more  keen 
far-sighted,  energetic  men,  nor  men  so  earnestlv  desirous  of 
reducing  f,re  losses  by  intelligent  fire  prevention  work  The 
criticism  we  so  often  meet  when  fire  prevention  activities  are 
undertaken-that  the  insurance  interests  do  not  want  losses  re- 
duced because  they  want  high  premiums  to  prevail-is  a  pop- 
ular fallacy.  We  all  know  that  the  profits  of  the  companies 
would  probably  be  larger,  and  certainly  more  secure,  on  a  smaller 
premium  basis,  if  a  great  reduction  in  the  losses  could  be  ef- 
fected. No  one  feels  this  popular  suspicion  more  keenlv  than 
the  managers  and  field  men  and  no  one  is  more  anxious  to  coun- 
teract it  than  they. 

We  have  all  witnessed  what  these  men  accomplished  dur- 
ing the  war  through  their  Con.servation  Association  work  in 
co-operation  with  State  Fire  Marshals,  local  Fire  Chiefs  and 
other  agencies.  This  work  was  a  lesson  in  what  co-operation 
of  all  forces  allie.l  for  fire  prevention  can  do.  This  was  ac- 
complished under  the  patriotic  stimulus  of  the  war,  but  we  have 
seen  the.se  .same  man  organizing  enthusiasticallv  to  continue  the 
efforts  m  the  days  of  peace.    We  mav  be  assured  that  thev  are 

on  the  ioli      Tlw.Jr  ^.^fi-,,,^;.,.-™  i ;_:^     r  .  •,,      ' 

:e  will  perme- 


ate the  ranks  of  the  local  agents,  and  I  think 
ward  to  the  steady  development  of  the  field  of  the  1 
until  it  has  reached  its  full  possibilities. 

101 


we  may  look  for- 
ical  agents 


President  Fleming:  It  is  quite  apparent  that  Mr.  Gamber 
has  given  his  subject  very  extensive  study,  and  I  am  sure  you 
will  find  the  tables  contained  in  his  paper  of  the  utmost  impor- 
♦mce  in  your  work. 

I  will  now  request  Mr.  W  alter  B.  Bell,  Fire  Prevention 
Commissioner  of  Tennessee,  to  lead  the  discussion. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Bell:  Mr.  Chairman  and  gentlemen;  1  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  readinjj  Mr.  Camber's  paper  and  I  want  to  call  your 
attention  particularly  to  the  question  of  the  local  agent.  I  have 
had  some  little  experience  as  a  local  agent  and  know 
to  some  extent  whereof  I  speak.  Since  I  have  been  in  the  office 
of  I-'ire  Prevention  Commissioner  of  Tennessee  I  have  given 
the  matter  considerable  study,  but,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  I 
have  been  in  office  only  since  June  0th  last,  it  seems  a  little 
presumptuous  for  me  to  appear  on  this  program  with  fire  pre- 
vention officials  who  ha<  <■  been  in  the  work  for  so  much  longer  a 
a  time. 

In  making  a  new  order  for  additional  inspection  blanks  re- 
cently, I  added  several  questions  These  questions  referred  to 
the  amount  of  insurance  carried  on  the  building,  the  amount  of 
insurance  carried  on  the  stock,  the  value  of  the  building,  and 
the  value  of  the  stock  in  the  last  inventory.  Now.  you  cannot 
get  all  of  that  information,  but  what  you  do  get  will  probably 
be  instrumental  in  preventing  a  fire.  If  I  find  a  man  is  carry- 
ing too  much  insurance  I  have  a  quiet  confidential  talk  with  the 
special  agent  of  the  insurance  company  and  furnish  him  with 
that  information.  One  of  my  deputies  overheard  a  conversation 
between  two  wholesale  merchants  in  which  one  said  to  the  other 
that  he  would  be  damned  if  he  would  stand  the  next  drop  in 
prices.  I  immediately  reported  that  and  said:  "You  get  that 
fellow's  affidavit  and  send  that  information  to  the  men  in  charge 
of  the  federal  investigation."  1  do  not  believe  there  is  going  to 
be  a  fire!  I  believe  in  investigating  fires  before  they  happen 
rather  than  afterwards. 

President  Fleming:  .\s  we  are  very  anxious  to  hear  the  two 
remaining  papers  during  this  session,  perhaps  the  discussion 
could  be  deferred  unil  tomorrow  morning. 

I  have  now  very  much  pleasure  in  presenting  Mr.  II.  L. 
Reade,  State  Fire  Marshal  of  North  Dakota,  who  will  speak 
on:     "Rural  Hazards.     How  Shall  They  Be  Eliminated?" 

102 


d 


RURAL  HAZARDS— HOW  SHALL  THEY  BE  ELIM- 
INATED? 

Mr.  Reade:  Tin-  siihji'ct  assij,MU'(l  me  '•Rural  Hazards— How 
Shall  'i'lu'v  lie  KliminaU'd?"  applies  s.i  directly  to  Bulletin  Xo. 
•iC,  of  Howard  E.  I'.utz.  State  1-ire  Marshal  of  Pennsylvania,  in 
the  June  \W),  issue  of  "The  Fire  F-n^nneer"  that  1  am  going  to 
quote  the  Bulletin  almost  in  its  entirety  and  the  credit  should 
go  in  a  great  measure  to  Marshal  Butz. 

The  methods  of  jirotection  against  fire  in  cities  and  vd- 
'ages  have  in  the  jiast  few  years  undergone  a  decided  chan-e  for 
betterment,  but  in  the  country  and  townships  jiractically  noth- 
ing has  been  done  for  a(le(|uately  protecting  ])roperty  and  the 
elimination  of  waste  by  fire.  That  there  is  no  excuse  for  the  ex- 
istence of  such  conditions  is  evidenced  by  the  advent  of  motor- 
drawn  fire  apparatus,  which  has  opened  up  a  wide  field  of  use- 
fulness. Under  the  old  method,  horse-drawn  fire  apparatus 
could  not  cover  a  large  amount  of  territory  owing  to  distance 
involved  and  the  limit  of  horse  endurance,  and  even  to  suggest 
to  the  smaller  towns  having  such  apparatus  that  they  lend  their 
assistance  to  their  country  brethren  in  their  trouble,  while  per- 
haps received  with  a  willingness  to  comply,  yet  under  the  cir- 
cumstances was  necessarily  though  reluctantly  refused.  This 
is  now  changed  and  if  co-operation  be  established  between  lo- 
calities having  motorized  apparatus  and  the  surrounding  coun- 
try, taking  in  a  radius  of  from  five  to  ten  miles,  there  is  no  rea- 
son why  protection  should  not  be  readily  afforded. 

In  these  davs  of  universal  telephones  the  alarm  can  be 
given  and  auto  apparatus  make  quick  response  over  consider- 
able territorv.  The  combination  chemical  and  hose  wagon  of 
the  citv  department  is.  however,  of  little  use  beyond  the  reach 
of  water  mains,  and  the  big  water  pumpmg  engine  with  its  abd- 
ity  to  thn.w  enormous  volumes  of  water  is  too  heavy  for  coun- 
try roads  and  of  too  great  a  capacity  for  the  water  supply. 

The  small  country  town  in  rural  districts  gets  most  of  its 
living  from  the  farmer  and  may  find  it  a  hard  problem  to  get  an 
efficient  fire  equipment.  The  hand  engine  and  the  small  two- 
wheeled  chemical  have  been  more  or  less  successfully  supple- 
mented in  some  cases  by  the  elevated  tank  water  system.  This 
fire   equipment,    however,   covers   only   a   comparatively    small 

area. 

A  light  auto  fire  equipment,  combining  a  chemical  and 
pumping  engine  and  hose  wagon,  has  recently  been  brought  out 

103 


M 


wh.ch  admirably  fills  the  requirements  for  the  small  town  and 
.^  amply  able  to  protect  a  considerable  section  of  the  surround- 
Zte  in'the  ''  T"'  '!  u"  ■^"""  ^°""  ^"''  '"^^  --'  ''strict 
tual  and  the  cost  very  reasonable  to  all  concerned.     The  rural 

uTf    hT.""  ''"J.  '^  ""^'^"^'"^   ^"'•'^  ^'^-^  -   telephone  ca  I 
V.  1  fmd  the  town  P.re  department  equipped  and  ready  to  serve 
them  promptly.  ^ 

this  t^rviJe'"Th°"  T'''  ""''"^T  ^'^""  '^■''"^'-•■■^">-  ^^^Pted  for 
h,s  ser%Re.    The  cost  ,s  mcons.derable.  especially  when  the  ex- 
tent of  the  protected  territory  is  considered.     Its  foundatbn  is 
a  well  known  make  of  automobile,  admittedly  the  most  gener- 
ally understood  and  used  car  in  the  country:  the  one  for  which 
suppl.es  and  repairs  can  be  most  readily  and  economically  ^ 
ta.ned.    Carned  on  this  machine  is  an  efficient  chemical  equip- 
ment and  a  pumpu.g  outfit  of  sufficient  capacity  to  handle  anv 
.res  which  m,,.ht  occur  in  the  rural  districts.    One  machine  cZ 
rally   located    would    protect    the   surrounding  countrv    whTll 

:bt\":rheT'"  '""'  '  *°  ^^'^  -^'^^  from'sources'un.;     ! 
able  to  the  heavy  c.ty  apparatus.    The  verv  essence  of  successful 
-re  f,^htmg  by  a  Fire  department  is  rapiditv  in  gettin^.  to  the 
..e  wnh   effective  fire  fighting  machinery.'  Misfires 'are  the 
•same  size  at  the  start  and  the  first  five  or  ten  minutes  is    he 
critical  time  which  decides  the  amount  of  loss.     This  motor  t 
paratus.  which  can  be  operated  by  anyone  capable  oT  d^^.^'g 
an  automobile,  enables  the  Fire  department  to  get  there  quicWv 
and  to  do  effective  fighting  when  they  arrive      Simplicitv   an  i 
rapidity  of  one  of  these  machines  eliminates  much  oi  1 1  e  o  cl  - 
nary  confusion  attendant  at  all  fires.     Its  quick  arrival  with  the 
chemical   would  often    prevent  a   .small    fire   from   be.     ning  a 
large  one^      t  would  fight  prairie  and  brush  fires  effectually   as 

1\  r\  ;  k"'"  '"'^  "  ^"'^^^  ^"'^  '^^"-     If  co-operation'  be 
s  ablished  between  localities  having  motorized  apparatus  and 
he  surrounding  country  districts,  there  is  no  reason  why  pro- 
tection should  not  be  afforded  and  rural  hazards  greatly  cL- 

Co-operation  should  be  started  by  calling  a  meeting  of  the 
town  people  and  those  in  a  designated  territory,  and  provi.sion 
made  that  certain  portions  of  the  expenses  of  maintenance  o 
apparatus  be  borne  by  those  who  desire  protection. 

The  road  supervisors  should  be  included  in  this  meetintr 
and  in  uced  to  give  especial  attention  to  condition  of  thT  ro  d^ 
and  bridges  in  each  district  in   which  protective  measures  are 

104 


■-^^^--im 


considered,  for  dependin^^  upon  tlie  condition  of  t!ie  roads  and 
bridges  rests  the  promptness  of  responding  to  the  call  for  help. 

This  leads  to  the  question  which  is  agitating  the  entire 
state,  "Good  Roads,"  and  it  is  time  that  Fire  de]>.'rtments,  who 
luive  by  their  enterprise  and  hard  work  succeeded  in  acquiring 
efficient  apparatus,  lend  their  aid  to  their  less  fortunate  neigh- 
bors in  the  prevention  of  and  protection  against  fire;  and  at  the 
ame  time  it  is  the  duty  of  those  desiring  this  aid  to  insist  that 
the  roads  and  bridges  in  their  respective  districts  be  so  made 
and  kept  that  regardless  of  weather,  or  other  conditions,  they 
will  he  assured  at  all  times  that  when  assistance  be  required  it 
will  be  forthcoming  without  delay  or  possible  accident  owing  to 
road  conditions. 

Supervisors  of  roads  should  see  that  roads  and  bridges  arc 
always  kept  in  first  class  condition,  permitting  safe  traveling 
over  them  regardless  of  other  difficulties.  This  is  a  question 
of  home  safety  and  this  movement  should  receive  serious  thought 
and  a  call  sent  to  those  whose  property  is  without  protection, 
and  immediate  arrangements  madt  with  the  nearest  place  hav- 
ing motorized  apparatus  .o  respond  when  needed.  !n  returii 
tor  service,  which  in  many  instances  is  made  with  considerable 
inconvenience  by  those  who  willingly  respond  to  the  call  of  their 
fellow-men.  there  should  be  a  financial  arrangement  made  U^ 
contribute  a  share  in  the  upkeep  of  apparatus  and  a  positive  in- 
sistence on  the  part  of  the  taxpayer  that  roads  be  kept  in  first 
class  condition,  permitting  the  safe  carrying  of  the  heaviest  ap- 
paratus. 

The  question  of  rural  or  township  i)rotection.  although  new 
in  general,  has  already  been  agitated  in  several  states  and  has 
met  with  such  a  response  that  in  the  near  future  it  is  hoped  that 
it  will  apply  to  the  other  states.  In  one  instance  a  call  was  made 
from  a  small  hamlet,  fourteen  miles  from  a  city  which  had  but 
recently  motorized  their  apparatus,  and  in  thirty  minutes  from 
time  of  call  two  pieces  of  apparatus  had  responded  and  were  in 
action,  and  in  a  short  time  after  arrival  the  fire  was  under  con- 
trol. This  was  possible  owing  to  the  good  condition  of  the 
roads  and  bridges.  There  is  no  reason  why  the  same  assist- 
ance should  not  be  accorded  to  all  localities  not  equipped  for 
fire  protection,  depending  on  the  liberality  of  those  more  for- 
timate  localities  in  a  position  to  respond  when  assistance  is 
called  for. 

Each  constituted  fire  district  should  provide  for  inspec- 
tion at  least  twice  each  year  of  all  buildings  in  said  area.     Ev- 

105 


j 


I 


ery  farm  slu.ul.l  W  provided  with  adequate  ladders  so  that  the 
highest  points  on  .,11  buildin-s  could  be  easily  reached,  besides 
approved  fire  extinguishers,  containers  filled  with  non-freezable 
liquid,  and  boxes  of  sand  distributed  for  immediate  use.  all  of 
which  could  be  installed  at  a  minimum  expense. 

This  question  of  rural  fire  protection  is  being  discussed  all 
over  the  country.  In  Massachusetts  and  other  Xew  England 
states  the  old  town  meetings,  which  are  held  periodically  and 
vote  appropriations  for  various  township  neeu..  furnish  a  method 
of  covering  this  requirement.  Many  townships  have  availed 
themselves  of  it  and  many  more  are  planning  to  do  so. 

Xew  York  state  has  a  fire  district  law  under  which,  on  a 
petition  signed  I.y  a  number  of  the  voters,  the  authorities  can 
set  off  an-  stated  section  of  the  countrv  named  in  the  petition 
as  a  fire  district  and  the  voters  in  this    district    can  elect  fire 
commissioners,  issue  bonds  and  purchase  fire  equipment  to  be 
located   m   the  cent -r  of  the  district   for  the   protection   of  the 
whole  district.     There  should  be  a  law  en.'cted  in  every  st.-te 
where  the  rural  population  could  subscribe  to  the  purchase  of 
fire  apparatus  to  be  located  in  a  village  for  the  protection  of  all 
subscribers,     other  states  are  pas-ng  laws  permitting  the  town- 
sh.p  authorities,  on  proper  petition,  to  join  with  the  villages  and 
towns  in  purchasing  apparatus  for  their  mutual  protection     The 
time  is  at  hand  when  the  rural  districts  can  be  protected  a-ainst 
fire,  which  will  greatly  eliminate  and   minimize  rural   hazards. 
President  Fleming:     That  is  a  subject  of  verv  great  im- 
portance.    In  our  state  we  are  just  trying  to  dev-'lop'it. 

r  am  going  to  ask  that  we  reserve  the  discussion  ,m  Mr 
Reade-s  paper  and  also  on  the  next  topic  until  tomorrow. 

I  will  now  call  upon  Mr.  James  F.  Joseph.  Secretarv  of  the 
Conservation  .Association  for  the  Central  States,  to  speak  on 
the  subject.  "Educational  Results  of  Conservation  Association 
Work." 

EDUCATIONAL  RESULTS  OF  CONSERVATION  ASSO- 
CIATION WORK. 

Mr  Joseph:  On  March  21,  1Q17.  twelve  davs  prior  to  the 
assembling  of  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  considering  war  the 
National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  of  the  United  States  bv 
resolution  pledged  "its  services,  resources  and  facilities,  at' the 
disposal  of  the  United  States  government."  .ind  offered  to  "act 
as  a  medium  through  which  may  be  centralized  the  knowledge 
trainmg  and  services  of  the  inspection  and  engineering  forces' 

106 


■"I 


in  i-  eniplcvMULiit  aiul  of  all  other  fire  insurance  organizations." 
Such  rcMilution  was  personally  presented  to  the  Secretary 
of  War  at  Wasliinf^ton  on  March  '^Ith  by  the  ('resident  and  Gen- 
eral Manager  of  the  National  lioard.  't  was  referred  to  the 
Director  of  the  Council  of  N'ational  Defense,  by  whom  it  wa- 
promptly  and  cordially  accepted. 

Thereby  the  \ational  I'.oard  attained  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing foremost  among  .American  organizations  to  render  to  the 
federal  government  a  nation-wide  service. 

The  paramount  need  of  the  hour  was  food!  W  here  was  it? 
In  what  (|uantities?  How  was  it  housed?  To  what  hazard  sub- 
jected? How  to  remove  conditions  that  would  lead  to  its  de- 
struction by  fire?  How  to  best  safeguard?  In  effect,  how  to 
conse-ve,  for  the  first  and  most  vital  needs  of  the  allie:'.  and  the 
sustenance  of  their  i)eoples.  the  foodstuffs  in  the  United  State.  ? 

The  National  Board  immediately  visualized  the  mobile  or- 
ganization of  the  field  men  of  the  fire  insurance  com,^anies  pos- 
sessing the  abil:ty,  born  of  experience,  as  the  medium  through 
w'lich  this  most  urgent  service  could  be  accomplished. 

Upwards  of  four  thousand  field  men  were  peaceably  draft- 
ed in  the  formation  in  each  state  of  a  conservation  association, 
under  eleven  advisory  committees  covering  scrtional  divisions 
of  the  country,  all  acting  under  the  Department  of  National  Ser- 
vice of  the  National  Board. 

The  services  of  these  state  conservation  associations  were 
tendered  to  the  Governor  of  each  state  and  heartily  accepted 
by  each. 

These  field  men  were  given  credentials  as  Deputy  State 
Fire  Marshals,  or.  in  states  not  enjoying  the  great  advantage  of 
a  Fire  Marshal,  they  were  empowered  by  other  state  officials 
to  act  as  special  conservation  inspectors  in  behalf  of  the  state. 

The  principal  drive  was  in  places  handling  foodstuffs.  In 
the  case  of  grain,  from  the  country  and  terminal  elevators ;  thence 
to  the  flour  mills  and  steam  bakeries:  to  the  storage,  freight 
and  dock  warehouses.  Other  foodstuffs  were  treated  it  similar 
fashion. 

Sympathetic  staples  were  also  carefully  inspected,  embrac- 
ing principally  cotton,  wool,  lumber,  coal,  ore  and  others  of  a 
like  value,  from  which  was  produced  the  fooa,  the  clothing  and 
the  munitions  for  the  fighting  men  of  the  allies.  The  physical 
result  of  such  conservation  association  work  during  1017  and 
1918  shows  that  approximately  125,000  premises  were  inspected 

107 


ami   •^«T.(.<M.  RromnuM.lations   f.,r   impruvcmcnts   ma.lo       It   is 

>afe  to  assuim-  fn.„,  ,.nr  knowledge  that  ..vcr  «()',!   „f  such  rcc- 

;»"nH-n.lat,o„s  wen-  carric-,1  out.     The  practical  results  were      - 

l-te.     ,„   ,lu.  marked   reduction  of  fires  and   serious   losses  in 

1>>    the   reconls   of  the   vanous    fire   insurance   companies.   Ix^th 
."tock  and  mutual. 

The  attainment   of  such   results,   with   ,ts  consequent  ^reat 

asMstance  to  the  .,.>vernment,  coul.l  not  have  been  accomplished 

ad  not  state  officials  and  especially   the   Fire   Marshal.s',;:';;;; 

.    .1':-  hack  of  the  .nspector-s  work,  and  withc-ut  fear  or  favor 

l.av.PR  hut  the  loyalty  to  their  country  ir  mind   compelled    when' 

necessary,  the  property  owner  to  safeguard  h,s  premi.ses. 

These  conservation  inspectors,  rlrawn  from  the  ranks  of  all 
character  of  f.re  insurance  companies,  went  forth,  not  as  rep- 
resentat.ves  of  their  companies,  but  wholly  as  neutral  pleaders 
of  conservation.  They  worked  along  lines  drawn  from  general 
experience  founded  upon  common  sense.  Thus  in  settng  aside 
the  md.vKiual  requirements  of  any  one  company  to  meet  its  own 
Ideas,  mipressed  the  property  owner  with  the'sinceritv  .^f  their 
purpose  and  Raine.l  his  confidence  in  a  manner  never  previously 
m  evidence.  '  ■' 

He  accepte^'  of  their  recommendations  as  the  best  means 
of  conserving  his  property,  rather  than  the  idea  he  entertained 
.vcsterday.  t^at  inspectors  of  fire  insurance  companies  had  to 
f.nd  some  lau  t.  A  new  thought  was  born  to  the  property 
<nvn.-r.  Its  cultivation  was  demonstrated  in  the  carrying  out  of 
the  recommendations  by  the  great  majority  of  property  owners. 

;i'his  method  expanded  the  ability  of  the  average  inspector 

u'i:"cr:r'""^  r:  "°^  '^^^-^'-^^  ^°  p-p-^-  -  wh?ch  t 

-urance  was  earned,  but  to  all  properties.  He  never  even  in- 
quired a.s  to  what,  if  any.  insurance  was  carried.  He  was  Un- 
hampered by  the  standing  or  influence  of  the  owner.  He  was 
not  courting  the  favor  of  agent  or  broker  in  control  of  theTv 
"r;;;  ^^  "'""'  '"'^^-  •-'"^  '^  ^'""'^  --  -ho  controlled  the 

He  was  not  governed  by  the  rules  of  his  company  rem,Iat 
>ng  action  on  special  classes.     In  other  words    hT  h.T        u 
ness  in  hand  other  than  to  find  everyth  nland  anythiW  th"; 
vvould  Jeopardize  the  property  by  vj.  to  'e  utt  thl    em    ^ 

n  c"c:sr:;7e^°""'°"^=  ^^  ^^^^^"-^  such\a.ards  irwe. 
necessary  to  the  proper  operation  of  the  risk ;  to  plead  for  prompt 

108 


I 


iMUMBiaai 


compliance  »•  ith  his  recnmnu'ndations :  and  when  necessary,  to 
invoke  th-'  ;ii<l  i>f  the  i"ire  Marshal  ti)  cumpel  tlie  unreasonable 
owners'  cuinpliarce. 

To  the  credit  of  the  l)iisitK's>  men  of  the  country  we  are 
pleased  to  testify  to  the  few  cases  wherein  the  Fire  Marshal 
was  compelkd  to  adopt  drastic  tneasures.  My  such  appeals  to 
liu-  human  interest,  and  the  enthusiasm  ol  uie  inspectors,  there 
has  been  inculcated  into  the  mind  of  the  avcrape  property  owner 
a  clearer  concei)tion  of  conservation. 

Throufjh  the  ex])erience  thereby  acciuired.  by  their  own 
free  admission,  inspectors  of  today  are  a  better  e(|uii)ped  lot  of 
inspectors  than  they  were  two  years  ajjo. 

Durin^j  the  inspection  of  Sl.tinn  properties  in  the  middlewest 
states  made  in  T'lT,  the  number  of  fires  in  such  classes  no- 
ticeai)ly  decreased  from  previous  years.  Notably  in  one  of  the 
},'reat  ^rain-f^rowing  states  during  the  tv.  jIvc  months  preceding 
June  litl",  an  average  of  two  elevator  fires  per  week  were  re- 
ported to  the  State  Fire  Marshal's  department.  Durini;  the  in- 
spection drive  in  that  state,  from  June  until  the  end  of  Decem- 
ber of  that  year,  not  one  elevator  fire  was  reported  to  the  Fire 
Marshal. 

Tlie  inspectors  were  on  the  job  suggesting  and  urging  bet- 
terments. The  i)roperty  owner'-  loyalty  spurred  him  to  intro- 
duce improvements  to  care  for  and  also  to  guard,  by  special 
watchman  in  many  cases,  his  property.  The  newspapers  appeal- 
ed to  each  citizen  tt)  promptly  adopt  the  suggestions  of  the  con- 
servation inspectors. 

The  inspections  were  completed  about  the  lirst  of  the  year. 
The  inspectors  then  were  compelled  to  turn  their  attention  to 
the  individual  business  of  their  respective  companies,  alre.uly 
far  behind  in  their  work  on  account  of  the  conservation  cam- 
paign and  the  added  duties  placed  upon  each  field  man  by  vir- 
tue of  the  lack  of  man  power.  Then  what  happened'  The  fires 
became  more  frequent.  Why?  Simply  because  the  owner's 
irmxl  intention  to  act  as  his  own  lire  warden  was  forgotten  in 
looking  after,  what  he  thought,  were  more  important  matters. 
The  same  results  during  the  insi)ection  of  l".».iMi(t  jjropcrties  in 
the  same  section  of  the  country  were  in  evidence  in  r.MK  and 
due  to  identical  conditions.  Now  then,  looking  to  the  big  and 
important  majority  of  ]>roperty  owners  during  the  interim  of 
the  inspcct'-r's  \isits.  Thev  were  none-the-less  loyal  They  had 
no  desire  to  have  fires  destroy.    Thei   believed  f  just  as 

good  conservationists   as    when    the   inspector   i.  .-d   them. 

109 


r 


^^  '•-—  ^-..itio.  out  .,r  Imch  nr/:;,,^^':- 
prevention  eff....  v..u  n.us  It  .r:,;nr;;;r"""\-'"'' "" 

'•'u-  in.pc.ct..r  can't  make-  th  ■  p    .pertv    ,u         '   "^V"'-""'-"-'- 
.r:  lu.  can  only  show  ,„,„  ho^  '  ^""'  ''""'^'''^-'•P- 

>ugh.  but  only  represents  the  losses  pai  1  h     i   sur       .         ' 
.-•-     Fiut  please  bear  in  n,in.l  that  bm  'si    :";/;;;";;; 
tlK-    values    <Iestroyecl    are   covere.l    by    insurance  '    tLT 

t.on  for    .eserv.nj,  the  property  we  have  bv  the  anpIirnHon  of 

mathen^atVa.  feature  rff.Ve'.o';^  ""  *^"^""'      '"  '^'^  ""-'>• 
the   pal"."?  '""  '"  ''^"  "^'"""  ^"'^^  h^  '-^  contributing,  to 

;;;..;...n..sta.^ 

ten.  nee  of  F    e     "        l"  ^'""''"■''"^^•^  '''nnually   for  tiu-  main- 

F.ach  community   should  organize   a   conservation   and   fire 
r-ven  ,on    association.      The    State    ImVc    .Mars'    U     „       '-e 
t^  es  have  started  such  organizations  and.  with  the     o  oL'  a 
tion  of  the  conservation  association.    wiP  nn  H^.  i  ,         r      T 
in  ever,  „„„„„,,  ,„  .,,,  ,„ij   '^;';;rar'l':;';:L,'M" 

tio 


prove  tffectivc  must  sec  to  it  that  the  inspector's  judgment  is 
not  only  carried  out,  but  as  well  inaugurate  and  perpetuate  a 
svstem  of  "follow-up"  insi>ections  to  maintain  the  safest  pos- 
sil)lc  conditions  in  each  property. 

Some  i)eople  say  su'  h  organizations  are  only  possible  in 
small  Communities.  Likewise  some  of  our  very  best  people  give 
utterance  to  the  thought  that  such  work,  while  it  would  un 
<li)ubtedly  reduce  the  number  of  fires  and  tlurei)y  most  likely 
!i-Mii  tile  anmunt  paid  fc^r  losses  by  iiisuranct  companies,  conse- 
i|Uently  tlieir  time  .iiid  tlieir  energy,  would  i)e  entirely  for  and 
only  for  the  benefit  of  the  fire  insurance  companies. 

W  rcni:  a;,'aiii!  Let  us  look  at  Cincinnati.  ( )hio.  with  a  i)op- 
ulation  of  l"i(t,<iii(),  which  would  hardly  qualify  as  a  small  com- 
munity. For  a  number  ftf  years  preceding  I'.Miii  the  cost  of  in- 
.-urance  in  that  city  was  continuously  upward,  to  keep  pace  with 
tl'e  annual  abnormal  losses  and  the  ineffectual  efforts  to  in- 
duce tin-  city  to  adopt  fire  prevention  methods.  The  few  men 
whose  "ision  of  the  efficacy  of  fire  prevention  could  not  be  dim- 
nud,  kept  hammering  away.  In  1910  they  introduced  the  "I^aint- 
up  and  Clean-up  "  campaign.  The  result  compelled  the  unbe- 
liever t  >  assume  an  erect  attitude,  and  likewise  to  perceive  a  few 
things.  Then  followed  systematic  inspections  by  the  Fire  de- 
l)artment  and  ultimately  the  formation  of  the  Bureau  of  Fire 
Prevention  in  the  city  Fire  department.  Without  introducing 
details,  the  conservation  and  fire  prevention  methods!  made  g<  od, 
as  reflected  by  the  frequent  reduction  m  rates  from  I'.'IO  to  li)lF. 
represented  by  thirty-one  per  cent  on  buildings  and  thirty-tw', 
per  cent  on  contents.  The  financial  exhibit  is  a  saving  to  the 
property  owners  of  $850,000  annually  for  the  jjurchase  f :'  in- 
demnity against  fire.  Through  the  fire  prevention  methods  .'iSO 
buddings  were  razed  in  IIU*;;  400  in  ll'lT.  In  1!M8  it  was  only 
found  necessary  t(^  raze  ITT  buildings.  There  were  ()8!)  less  fires 
in  1!>18  than  in  H'lT.  Conservation  and  fire  prevention  methods 
have  made  good  and  paid  handsomely  in  Cincinnati.  Every 
hamlet,  village,  town  and  city  can  do  likewise. 

Conservation  an<l  fire  prevention  methods  urge  the  clean- 
ing from  cellar  and  attic  of  useless  litter  and  junk  and  the  avoid- 
ance of  replacing  what  has  been  removed.  It  establishes  the 
great  advantage  of  cleanliness  and  ortler  over  filth  and  disorder. 
It  removes  a  favorite  breeding  place  of  disease  carrying  bac- 
teria and  easily  makes  for  a  healthier  community. 

Fire  prevention  offers  the  opportunity  of  saving  thousands 
of  lives  and  the  avoidance  of  disfiguring,  bruising  and  maiming 

111 


pu-ards  of  ,.,,000  people  annually.     Back  in  1004  was  started 
I.C  ca„,pa.«„  for  a  -.afe  and  sane  Fourth."  to  protect  frte 
and  secondly    the  property  of  the  people,  following  the  puhl    a 

:^:.:^-r"e:/rr';;s'5--^^^^^ 

f  eirk:  T^^^^  '";'/""  '"J"'-'^''-  -^-^l^^^-through  the  use  of 
.reworks.  The  report  for  l-HH  shows  eight  dead  and  tvventv- 
hree  .njured-total  dead  and  injured  thirtv-one.  X  educdon 
.•o,n  VMr,  ,n  the  number  of  dead.  4:.«.  injured  .V.,.iO-totaI  d  aS 

ndi  L  n  '   !"  ''"■"''^'^'  ^""'  ''--'"^"'•^^d  ''"^n  ignorance, 

a      all  of  us  to  recoj,n,ze  the  possibility  of  the  attainment  of  all 

m  w:;k  of '''''  ?r'''- '"-  ^■'^'■"^^  -^''^^-  ■•''-  --'-f ' 

team  v\orK  of  every  bloomin    soul." 

Do  you  recall  that  there  are  four  times  the  number  burned  to 

road...     r.o  you  remember  that  in   1018  there  were  r,  (ioo  liv' 
needlessly  fed  to  the  fire  fiend  by  our  closest  and  mo  t  i     J^ 

companuH,    carelessness^     If  we  cannot  reach  th" human        de 
s1rov:r"';'7-^  '-■  ^"^  '---"^-^nt  of  over  fortv  live^Z,  o^ 
i'>    statmp  that  the  compensation  laws  of  most  states  place  an 

P  'tteT  1^'fr  f  f^  °"   '  '''""'"   ■■^-   -   carelessnes^o 
petted  cinld.  ghoul.shly  destroyed   sufficient   humans  to   re,  re 
sent  a  ..tatua.ry  value  of  $T.-,.0.K..OOO.     Add  this  sum    o  our  L: 

rooo'orr ''  ■''■""*;'""•""'  ^"^  ^^-^  "='^-^'  -^  ^^-^  ^^^^^^  ";s- 

e  tol      ""T'V"^  '""''"■^-'  "-^'^^  ''''^^'■">-'  --1  never  to  be 
estored.  and  vyuhout  a  mark  of  credit  to  the  account  of  thrift 
but  exi)erience  born  of  adversity. 

'Hu.  best  education,  it  has  been  sai.l.  is  adversitv.  Then  our 
<  -..raeetul  de.struction  by  fire  should  make  us  the  best  e  ucated 
P-'Ple  on  earti,.     We  must  cultivate  the  lessons  thus  a  qui  ed 

Secure  the.r  assistance  >r  directing  their  best  energies  to  con- 
serve propertv  by  preventing  fire. 

For  those  who  will  not  subordinate  their  selfish  interests  in 
the  cause,  let   personal   responsibilitv  laws  compel   their  reco 

cianter  5  ''''''"''.''''  "'■^^''  '"  '''^'i-'  ^lavs.   for  in  Exodus, 
chapter  ,i,  verse  .,.  we  read:    "If  fire  breaks  out  and  catch  in 

112 


thorns,  so  that  the  stocks  of  corn,  or  the  field,  be  consumed 
th(  rewith  :  he  that  kindleth  the  fire  shall  make  restitution." 

The  first  legislation  establishing  the  office  of  Fire  Marshal 
was  enacted  by  the  state  of  Massachusetts  in  1894.  The  prin- 
cipal (lutifs  of  the  Marshal  were  to  investigate  "the  cause,  origin 
and  circumstances  of  every  fire  occurring"'  and  to  make  "spe- 
cial investigation  as  to  whether  such  fire  wras  the  result  of  care- 
lessness or  des<ign."  Judicial  powers  were  conferred  empow- 
ering the  Marshal  to  examine  into  the  charges  of  arson.  Au- 
thority was  also  given  to  enter  premises  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
amination and  to  "order  removed  or  remedied,  combustible  ma- 
terial and  inflammable  conditions  dangerous  to  the  saft.y  of 
?!uch  premises."  The  dominating  idea  in  the  creation  of  the  Fire 
Marshal's  department  was  to  arrest  and  convict  tho.se  charged 
with  arson  ;  virtually  a  police  function  of  the  state. 

The  community  is  properly  entitled  to  such  wise  and  nec- 
essary protection  against  the  arsonite,  the  most  dangerous,  cow- 
ardly and  despicable  of  the  criminal  class.  The  authority  grant- 
ed to  remove  and  remedy  dangerous  conditions  was  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  a  minor  activity.  Events  born  of  results  during  the 
past  few  years  demonstrate  that  while  the  arsonite  should  be 
made  to  understand  that  his  profession  is  not  licensed  by.  but 
under  constant  watchfulness  of  the  state,  greater  results  are 
possible  for  the  .safety  of  life,  possession  of  good  health  and  con- 
servation of  property  through  the  major  efforts  of  the  Fire  Mar- 
shal's office  being  directed  to  conservation  and  fire  prevention 
methods. 

With  the  community  co-operating  with  the  Fire  Marshals 
and  the  conservation  and  fire  prevention  associations  of  the  in- 
surance companies,  we  can  and  we  will  mould  public  opinion  to 
these  standards: 

To  become  savers  as  well  as  makers  of  money. 

To  be  thrifty— not  wasteful. 

To  erect  fire  resistive,  rather  than  fire  breeding  structures. 

To  secure  reduction  in  insurance  cost  by  maintaining  safe 
conditions,  rather  than  the  willingness  to  pay  for  unsafe  and  un- 
necessary hazards. 

To  prevent  fires,  rather  than  maintaining  the  now  necessary, 
elaborate  and  expensive  fire  extinguishing  apparatus  and  equip- 
ment. 

To  punish  the  culpable,  rather  than  extending  .sympathy  to 
and  regarding  as  unfortunate  those  who  have  avoidable  fires. 

To  regard  as  a  direct  tax  on  the  community  the  cost  of  all 

113 


n^- 


•i 


n- 


tires    ratlur  than  the  assumption  that  the  insurance  companies 
pay  the  entire  cost. 

To  understand  that  the  property  owner  is  only  indemnified 
throuK'h  insurance,  but  the  property  destroyed  can  never  he  re- 
stored. 

Let  us  f.o  forth  understanding  that  we  cannot  successfully 
."terest,  much  less  instruct,  others  unle.s  we  ourselves  firmly 
beheve  ,n  that  which  we  ask  others  to  accept.  Our  heart  mus't 
1.e  .n  the  work  to  enthuse  the  other  fellow.  Let  us  co-ordinate 
our  forces  to  seek  the  co-operation  of  every  one.  Let  us  subor- 
<imate  our  personal  views  and  aims  to  the  advancement  of  the 
mterest  and  welfare  of  the  community.  Cast  aside  the  ar- 
I.Jtrary  „ul,v,dual  opinion  that  we  are  prone  to  regard  with  com- 
placent approval,  ever  rememberin<r  that  "few  men  are  wise  by 
the.r  own  teaching::  for  he  that  was  only  taught  by  himself  had 
a  tool  for  a  master." 

C-m-,^i?f '"*,^^""i"f  ^  .'  '"'•■  "''-^'  '^'"'  *'^^  ^''"'^<'  States  and 
Canada  have  been  helped  more  in  educational   ways  along  fire 

prevention  hnes  since  the  organization  of  the  Conservation  -\s- 
soc.at.on  than  they  have  in  any  ten  years  prior  to  that  time,  and 
a  great  deal  of  the  remarkable  result  is  due  to  the  faithful  work 
performed  by  .Mr.  Joseph. 

At  !•  .;io  tom.>rrow  morning  the  .liscussion  on  these  two  last 
top.cs  w.ll  be  earned  on.  and  then  there  will  be  an  elaborate  pro- 
S-ram  to  to  low.  There  is  no  place  for  slackers  i„  this  game 
e  -ther  gentlemen  !    I  hope  every  member  will  be  on  hand  at  !. :.!.. 

I  he  Committee  on  Resolutions  which  was  to  have  been  ap- 
pomted  this  morning  will  be  compose,!  of  .Mr.  Darst.  Mr   Hussev 
Mr.  Richman.  Mr.  Ileaton  and  .Mr.  Frank  Lewis  "     "  ' 

coJ^t^^r'-  ^^■'"  ^""  '^'"•">-  ^--^-^^^  •"-•  '■-  "-ting  of  your 
Mr.  Darst:    Yes. 

..ro,!'''f '"r  ^''"'"^^  •'''""•  ^^""^'"^-'"-  a  Klance  at  the  pro- 
.i^  am  w,  1  n,dicat,  ,,at  we  are  to  be  entertained  by  the  Canadian 
Manufacturers  Association  at  the  Scarborough  Golf  &  Country 
Club  this  evening-. 

Mr.  Lewis,  the  Deputy  Fire  Marshal  of  Ontario,  has  already 
.nnuHinced  that  cars  will  be  in  front  of  this  hotel  at  4  p.  m 

If  there  is  no  other  business  will  .someone  move  that  the 
convention  adjourn  until  tomorrow  morning  at  !•:.!()? 

•nouslv    that  the  convention  adjourn  until  :»:,;()  a.  m    ThurMJav 
August  i'H,   1!»]!),  iiiuisuav. 

114 


li^JlUIIJ^*.W,.Ji.; 


SfSS* 


rrswj 


THIRD  DAY'S  PROGRAM 


Thursday,  August  28,  1919. 

Morning  Session. 

President  Fleming:  The  conventinn  will  he  in  order.  I 
lidpj  ihc  Chairman  of  the  Resolutions  committee  has  arranged 
so  that  they  car  present  their  report  this  afternoon. 

Mr.  Darst:  Mr.  President,  I  would  suggest  if  anyone  has 
anything  to  off  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  they  will  write 
it  out  at  once  anu  hand  it  in  this  afternoon. 

Mr.  Beach:  [  would  move  the  following  resolution:  Re- 
s  ;(1,  that  an  expression  of  sympathy  of  the  convention  be  e.\- 
i.  .ded  to  Mr.  Key,  Deputy  l^re  Marshal  of  Tennessee,  who  un- 
f'M-tiinately  has  been  taken  ill  and  is  ]ial)le  to  be  taken  to  the 
hospital,  and  that  flowers  be  sent  by  the  convention  to  Mr.  Key; 
and  also  to  .Mrs.  Kubasta,  who  it  is  understood  is  confined  to  her 
room  on  account  of  illness.     (Carried  unanimously.) 

President  Fleming:  I  am  very  glad  indeed  to  have  this  res- 
clutii  n  presented  and  I  am  sure  it  is  the  wish  of  this  meeting 
that  it  i)e  acted  ui)on,  and  I  am  delighted  to  turn  it  over  to  the 
Resolutions  committee  now 

Mr.  Beach:  1  would  also  suggest.  Mr.  President,  that  the 
flowers  he  sent  at  the  expense  of  the  .Association. 

Mr.  Foster:    1  second  that. 

President  Fleming:  It  has  t)ecn  moved  and  seconded  that 
a  triliute  of  flowers  l)e  sent  to  Mr.  Key  and  .Mrs.  Kubasta  on  ac- 
count of  illness  and  tiieir  inability  to  attend  the  convention.  .\\\ 
in  favor  please  rise.  It  is  unanimous.  The  Secretarv-Treas- 
ur. .  is  the  one  who  has  always  attended  to  this  work  and  I  am 
sure  he  will  do  so  in  this  instance. 

.\uw.  then,  1  think  yesterday  we  were  hurriedly  compelled 
to  drop  the  program.  We  were  di.s'cussing  the  subject  of  "Ru- 
ral Hazards— How  v'^hall  They  he  Eliminated?"  and  we  listened 
to  a  very  excellent  paper  by  Mr.  H.  I..  Reade,  State  Fire  Mar- 
shal of  .\orth  Dakota.  I  will  now  call  on  Mr.  Friedley  to  begin 
the  discussion  of  that  problem. 

115 


|s| 


DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Friedley:  Mr.  Chairman,  I  wish  to  call  attentior 
to  and  emphasize  some  of  the  points  made  by  Mr.  Reade 
The  fact  is  that  Mr.  Readers  paper  dealt  with  rural  dangers  anc 
their  elimination  with  such  skill  that  all  I  can  do  is  to  empha 
size  what  he  says.  In  regard  to  the  inspection  of  farm  prop- 
erty, it  would  appear  from  the  situation  of  farm  property  thai 
It  V'ould  he  ne.xt  to  impossible  to  make  intelligent  inspections 
but  you  know  the  old  proverb  that  the  mate  of  the  b(X)t  is  prool 
of  its  value,  and  I  just  wish  to  tell  you  of  an  instance  of  a  riral 
farm  company  in  Indiana  t:iat  takes  up  the  subject  of  ins.jec- 
lion  of  its  risks.  The  Tri-County  Mutual  of  Provinceville  is  con- 
trolled by  Mr.  Cooper.  The  Secretary.  Mr.  Cooper,  is  a  live 
wire:  he  is  especially  interested  in  the  inspection  of  his  rsks. 
He  made  a  report  to  the  Farmers'  Union,  which  is  a  union  of 
the  Mutual  Companies  of  Indiana,  in  which  he  stated  that  in 
the  year  1!I18  he  had  on  his  books  four  thousand  risks.  He  em- 
ployed a  sub-inspector  whose  duty  it  was  to  inspect  these  risks, 
located  an  automobile  for  him  and  started  him  out  to  the  three 
counties.  Of  the  four  thousand  risks  he  had  inspected  about  two 
thousand  when  the  cold  weather  came  on  and  he  had  to  lay  up 
for  the  fall  and  winter.  His  loss  on  the  whole  business  was  .some- 
thing like  two  thousand  dollars  for  the  year,  if  I  remember  rightly. 
Out  of  the  two  thv.usand  risks  that  were  inspected,  he  had  a 
loss  during  the  year  of  $18.  The  other  two  thousand,  which 
he  had  not  inspected,  came  along  with  their  usual  quota  of  losses. 
That  is  an  illustration  of  what  may  be  done  by  rural  inspection, 
and  when  Mr.  Cooper  presented  that  to  the  Farmers'  Union  they 
immediately  resolved  to  inspect  their  farm  property. 

As  State  Fire  .Marshal,  T  supplied  Mr.  Cooper's  inspector 
witli  the  authority  of  a  Deputy  State  Fire  Marshal,  gave  him  a 
traveling  deputy,  and  authorized  him  to  go  into  buildings  to  in- 
spect. That  gave  him  official  standing  with  the  farmers,  as  well 
as  having  the  company  behind  him.  I  tell  you  this  so  that 
you,  as  Fire  Marshals,  if  you  see  proper  to  do  so,  can  get  in 
touch  with  the  mutual  farm  companies  and  I  think  by  .so  doing 
you  would  be  able  to  save  a  good  portion  of  the  farm  risks  that 
arc  now  burning.  Mr.  Cooper's  inspector  told  me  that  out  of 
two  thousand  risks  inspected  only  three  refused  or  failed  to 
carry  out  the  rpmmmendations  made.  There  were  three  people 
whose  policies  he  had  to  cancel  before  he  could  get  the  desired 
corrections  made.    This  shows  that  the  people  who  control  these 

116 


things  can  easily  l)e  led  to  enthusiastically  adopt  the  suggestions 
of  ])rutection. 

Mr.  Reade  also  dealt  with  the  question  of  rural  fire  pro- 
tection. 1  think  this  is  a  very  important  and  a  growing  system 
of  eliminating  fires  in  rural  districts.  We  found  wherever  we 
investigated  in  Indiana  as  well  as  in  the  adjoining  states  that 
the  cities  and  towns  were  hampered,  that  while  the  farmers  re- 
alized they  would  he  benefited  by  protection  they  did  not  care 
to  go  down  in  their  pockets  and  assist  materially  in  the  expense. 
With  this  in  view  some  of  the  friends  of  rural  protection  had  in- 
troduced into  the  Legislature  of  Indiana  last  year  a  bill,  and  I 
will  read  it  to  you : 

"Be  it  enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  state  of  In- 
diana that  in  addition  to  the  duties  already  conferred  by  law 
upon  the  trustees  of  the  several  townships  of  the  state  of  Indiana, 
h  trustees  by  and  with  the  consent  of  their  advi.sory  board 
are  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to  purchase  and  acquire 
as  tovi^nship  property,  fire  apparatus  and  appliances  to  be  used 
by  said  township  in  protecting  the  property  in  said  township 
from  fire,  and  to  provide  for  the  use  and  operation  of  same  as 
townshi])  fire  protection,  and  pay  for  the  purchase  and  operat- 
ing of  same  from  the  township  funds  under  the  provisions  of 
existing  laws." 

That  bill  passed  the  Legislature  almost  unanimously,  but 
owing  to  some  mistakes  that  occurred  in  finally  getting  the  law 
on  the  statute  books  it  is  a  question  now  whether  it  is  a  valid 
statute  in   Indiana,  and  that  will  be  determined  by  the  courts. 

President  Fleming:  The  subject  of  rural  hazards  i>  becom- 
ing more  and  more  important,  because  we  have  never  estimated 
the  great  loss  of  rural  communities.  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr. 
Tracy,  State  Fire  Marshal  of  Iowa,  to  continue  the  discussion. 


DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Tracy:  This  subject  has  been  so  thoroughly  and  ably 
discussed  at  previous  meetings  of  the  Association  as  well  as  at 
this  time  that  what  1  may  say  will  be  a  repetition  of  what  has 
already  been  said.  However.  I  will  touch  on  some  of  the  im- 
portant points  of  the  subject  as  I  see  them. 

During  the  first  seven  and  one-half  years  of  the  existence 
of  the  Iowa  office  there  were  '^77  fires  from  spontaneous  com- 
bustion, totalling  a  loss  of  ^LOlT.'.'Cil.  '\Iany  of  these  fires  oc- 
curred on  the  farm  b  son  of  storin,      'icured  hay,  especially 

117 


i:|| 


the  clover  and  alfalfa  hay  being  stored  before  bein,.  thorou^ 

cured  or  benig  piled  on  top  of  old  drv  hay.  ^ 

During  the  same  period  there  were'-J.lCg  barns  destroy 

loss  totahng  on  buildings  $3,472,011   and  on   conte  .k'; 

4.  ...W.^.    A  large  per  cent  of  these  barns  were  on  the  farm 

be  thrownlTnV'T"  'f  "'^""  '"^  '^"""^'  "^>-    "'^^  ''-'  shot 
thrown  to  one  side  and  not  covered  with  new  hay.    ' 

Nentilation   must   necessarilv   be   bv   piV      'IM,. 
"P  in  ngh     s,.ed  packages  and  hand  to  us  to  prevent  soont 

Lightnmg  during  the  same  period  caused  1  v.  i 

..he  installation  of  properly  constructed  lightning  rods 

they  can  be  earned  in  all  parts  of  the  barn  and  used  "  a  mn, 

z::7.i:::' ''"  ^"""^-^^'^ ''"'  ^^-^^-"^  -  ^^^^^ 

sur,nK'n''f •'  ''7  ^""'T  '"  -'''  ■^^''"''^  '^^^  ^"  automobile  with  a 
^safe  place  some  distance  from  other  buildings.  The  pract  c  of 
storn^  automobiles    in   barns   or   drivewayf  shouhf  ^':::Z 

h'"  pJcIhS  ''t^^'''"'  ;;'.^''^  """^^  '^  ''-^^--^  and  should 
-  P  oh.b.ted.      1  he  same  thmg  applies  to  smoking  i„  the  barn 

umiment,  spa\in  cnrf-  i.r  -in,,  -•  .  i  . 

Phorn.,  is  exceeding  V  ,ro^  nJZi^'  TT""  "''""■ 
P..P.  in  the  cnrrv  conrb  '""  "eT  ^  ,'  "''","'''  """  '" 
the  iron  c„„,„s  i.ein,  .hr„>  „     ",  ,'1  ^  '!,     :,t'T.  '-*"'  ">■ 

■"-  .'.= I.....IC ...  n,i,  „.i,„  .„e  ci,a„  an.rra:,".  :L"^„ra  r:;";': 

118 


spontaneous  combustion.  Keep  these  bottles  in  a  box  with  li<i 
securely  fastened  and  out  of  reach  of  the  stock  so  the  box  can- 
not be  rubbed  down. 

Hand  fire  extinguisher,  .re  being  installed  in  most  all  of 
the  garages,  mercantile  establishments,   elevators   and   storage 
warehouses.     These  extinguishers  are  considered  indispensabFe 
W  hy  not  nistall  them  in  farm  hou.ses  and  barns  ..hich  are  some 
.iistance  from  any  fire-fighting  station  or  apparatus? 

I   know  ,.f  .several  fires  caused  by  farmers  handling  gaso- 
hne  by  lantern  light.     Recently  one  farmer  ran  out  of  'Msoline 
o'l  the  road  and  called  on  another  farmer  for  gasoline     The  sec- 
ond farmer  had  no  gas  other  than  what  was  in  his  auto  and  in 
order  to  get  the  gasoline,   farmer   \o.  One  crawled   under  the 
auto  with  a  lantern  to  open  the  drain  pipe  to  get  the  gas     The 
result   was  that  $.J.OO.)  worth  of  property   went  up  in  smoke. 
1  his  loss  alone  would  purchase  electric  lanterns  for  every  eighty 
acre  farm   m  an   average   sized  county.     If  the  electric'  lantern 
could  be  put  into  practical  use  there  would   be  fewer  matches 
cropped  in   barns  in   the  hay   later  to  be  stepped  on  and  snart 
fire.     When  fire  extinguishers  are  a  part  of  the  equipment  on 
an  automobile,   they  cut   down   the   in.surance   premium       VVhv 
should  not  the  rate  be  cut  when  fire  extinguishers  and   light- 
ning rods  are  installed  on  the  farm  ? 

The  shingle  roof  on  the  farm,  with  no  ladder  handy  is  cross 
carelessness  and  inexcusable. 

Defective  chimneys  are  also  great  hazards  that  are  neglected 
by  the  farmer  as  well  as  city  people. 

If  a  carefully  prepared  circular  letter  could  be  printed  for 
general  circulation   and   sent  to  school   houses   for  distribution 
we  could  reach  practically  every  farm  house. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  indebted  to  all  of  these  gentle- 
men who  have  treated  this  subject  so  splendidlv.  F  very  much 
appreciate  their  thought  along  the  line  of  proper  lighting  to  be 
used  in  farm  barns,  and  I  believe  it  is  being  brought  into  use 
very  much  more  each  day.  We  want  to  give  this  matter  verv 
deep  thought.     The  farms  should  have  more  attention. 

Now  that  great  subject.  "Conservation  and  Fire  Preven- 
tion '  which  unfortunately  we  were  compelled  to  pass  over  hur- 
riedly last  night.  just  before  going  to  the  Club-house  is  the 
next  subject  for  discussion. 

We  have  had  Fire  Prevention  associations  all  over  the  coun- 
try, in  almost  every  state,  and  during  the  war  period  we  had  a 

119 


great  movement  for  conservation.  I'oth  of  these  were  very 
productive  of  good.  It  was  thought  best  to  amalgamate  these 
two  so  that  they  would  not  overlap  and  there  would  !)e  no  loss 
or  leakage  in  the  .service,  and  under  the  auspices  of  the  Na- 
tional Uoarl  of  Fire  L'ndcrwriters,  and  with  their  backing  and 
constant  support,  the  two  organizations  have  been  merged  into 
one  under  the  title  "Conservation  and  Fire  Prevention  Asso- 
ciation." The  same  constitution,  drafted  by  the  committee  in 
charge,  is  to  be  used  f  jr  every  state  in  the  Union. 

Mr.  Joseph  gave  a  very  excellent  paper  on  this  subject  yes- 
terday, and  Mr.  Ralph  K.  Kichman.  editor  of  "Fire  Protection," 
one  of  the  great  periodicals,  which  ought  to  be  in  every  fire 
house  and  in  every  l-'ire  Marshal's  office  in  the  country,  will 
begin  the  discussion  this  morning. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Richman:  Gentlemen  of  the  convention;  There  are 
just  two  points  in  Mr.  Joseph's  paper  that  I  should  like  to  em- 
phasize strongly.  I  want  to  begin  by  saying  that  I  have  never 
been  convinced  that  the  work  which  was  done  by  the  old  Fire 
Prevention  Association  was  a  very  great  success,  because  this 
Fire  Prevention  Association  was  working  in  the  same  way  that 
a  great  deal  of  fire  prevention  work  was  being  done  in  this  coun- 
try, and  is  today.  The  work  was  completed  so  fast  and  so  rap- 
idly that  when  it  was  all  done  there  was  nothing  tangible  or  def- 
inite, no  concrete,  permanent  results  in  any  one  s]x>t.  Xow  if 
the  Conservation  .'\ssociation's  work  has  been  the  success  that  it 
seems  to  have  been,  it  has  been  due,  I  think,  more  than  anything 
else  to  the  fact  that  a  group  of  trained  inspectors  went  into  a 
concentrated  class  of  property  and  made  follow-up  inspections 
until  they  did  get  results  in  that  one  i)articular  place.  .\nd  so 
the  key-note  of  the  success  of  that  work  has  been  concentration 
on  a  single  class  of  property,  and  the  second  thing  has  been  that 
the  first  work  has  been  followed  up  until  what  was  recommended 
had  been  done  in  most  instances. 

.\'ow  applying  that  principle  generally,  it  seems  to  me  that 
we  can  come  to  the  conclusion  that  most  of  the  money  which 
has  been  spent  in  this  coui.try  to  promote  fi.?  prevention  work 
is  being  spread  out  for  so  many  classes  and  over  such  a  lar 
territory,  that  w,e  are  not  getting  the  nucleus  of  concrete,  tan 
gible  results  to  which  we  can  point  anywhere.  We  take  the  ap- 
propriation of  $.'?,5,000  and  spread  it  out  over  the  entire  state, 
as  must  be  done,  of  course,  by  the  Fire  Marshal's  department,  to 

120 


j^ive  service;  and  when  the  term  of  four  years  is  over  we  can 
point  to  no  single  instance  in  the  comniiinity,  and  say,  "This  is 
what  can  l)e  done  by  strenuous  and  concentrated  fire  protection 
campaigns  in  one  spot."  In  other  words,  it  seems  to  me  a  fire 
prevention  campaign  in  any  local  community  never  ought  to 
be  begun  until  at  least  three  or  four  years'  work  of  prepara- 
tion has  been  done ;  until  every  single  citizen  in  the  community 
has  been  put  to  work  b\'  personal  consultation ;  until  every  work- 
ing man  in  the  community  has  been  met  and  solicited  to  pros 
ecute  the  campaign  :  and  until  every  individual  in  the  community 
has  been  interviewed  by  the  Fire  Marshal  or  some  other  man, 
and  the  members  in  the  community  have  been  asked  to  work 
in  the  campaign  ;  and  then,  when  you  have  all  the  organization 
ready  to  start  to  work,  begin  the  campaign.  That  is  the  sys- 
tem which  has  been  successful  on  the  Pacific  cf)ast ;  that  is  the 
.system  which  has  been  successful  in  all  communities  every- 
where, and  in  Cincinnati,  which  Mr.  Joseph  cited  yesterday. 
You  must  enlist  all  the  elements  in  the  community,  and  you 
'nust  touch  every  spot  which  necessitates  fire  prevention  before 
progress  is  going  to  be  made.  It  is  only  by  concentrating  on 
a  single  class  of  risk  or  a  single  community  that  you  are  going 
to  furnisli  definite  tangible  results  which  you  can  point  to  the 
])eople  as  being  a  definite  success. 

President  Fleming:  1  think  Mr.  Richman  is  absolutely 
right.  Any  action  that  we  take  should  be  on  definite  risks  at 
l)articular  seasons  of  the  year,  at  a  time  when  the  plants  are 
just  getting  ready  to  begin  operation.  That  is  the  idea  he  has 
in  his  mind,  to  specialize  and  concentrate,  and  see  that  you  do 
not  spread  out  too  much,  and  not  cover  up,  and  take  care  that 
the  recommendations  you  require  are  complied  with. 

Xow  we  will  continue  this  discussion.  Mr.  Gambcr,  the 
!?tate  Fire  Marshal  of  Illinois  and  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  As- 
sociation, will  be  the  next  speaker. 

Mr.  Camber:  Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen:  I  consider  it 
a  great  privilege  to  discuss  this  important  subject,  but  a  matter 
of  five  minutes  is  only  just  about  long  enough  to  get  started. 
The  reason  I  say  I  consider  it  a  great  privilege  is  that  Illinois 
was  the  pioneer  state  in  the  adoption  of  a  conservation  mea- 
sure, and  I  think  Mr.  Joseph  will  bear  me  out  in  that.  Upon 
our  entry  into  the  \\'orld  War  the  Governor  of  Illinois  took  ac- 
tion. On  the  2."ird  day  of  April,  101 T,  he  instructed  the  then 
Fire  Marshal,  Walter  H.  Bennett,  to  immediately  proceed  to  or- 

121 


Ranize   his    forces   t..   inspect    warehouses   an.l    all    food   denos 
.tones  within  the  state  of  Illinois.  '  l^"'" 

The  author  of  the  paper  just  rea.l  was  verv  active  in  the 
-■^mpa.pn  and  he.  together  witi,  the  L^nderwriter's  an.l  the  ^  e 
IVevent.on   IJureau.  rendered  vah.able  service. 

th.  V  ""'^Ti  '''''''''"'■''  '"  '''^'"'"•^'  «''^"<^i--'ted  with  these  men  at 
he  close  of  the  campaign.     About  six  weeks  were  spent  in  Chi- 

i  with'" ;""    "rr  "^"^  ^""^"">-  "■^•'-'^■'*-'  -»■■  — 

pl.td  H  th.  and.  remarkable  as  it  may  seem,  onlv  two  fires  were 
reported  to  the  department  in  the  prop.,  ties  i^s.  -d  du  in^ 
the  entire  year  of  I!UT.  "luun^ 

uaiJ^wT  ""'  ^^."^V?'"'*'  "''  '■"  ^^'''^''-  ^  down-state  cam- 
.rftate  n  '''''T  r^^  '  ""-^'^  "f  tate  agents  commissioned 
"de  ?7r7r  ""•  '^"  r"'""^  '"'"'^  ^"  ^''^'y  ""  'he  work  out- 
tt  ,  "'""'-■■  ''"'■''"^  ^'^*"  down-state  campaign  about 
■'.•.">  .nspect.ons  were  ma<ie  by  the  conservation  inspectors  The 
orders  issued    .vere  followed  up  by  the   Fire   Marshal,   both  bv 

Po  Z     ""-^  rJ-   ^'"./''■""^>-    ^'^^    '^'-^^^'^    -J    •-   -rrel- 

e  ent  ov    T       T^     ''  "•"""  '"'''"^  '"'"^  -"^i'-'  t*^  '^-  dif- 
found  "       niana,^a-rs  where  hazardous  conditions  were 

The    result    shown    was    quite    remarkable,    a.    there    were 
we,,^--f.ve   elevator   fires   in    m:   as   against    fortv.;:^:;    H 

Ind  '^li  :  rr^  *''  "r'^"  ^^^  •■■•^••^  •>>■  P-^-^-aHy  one-half, 
and  despite  the  increased  values,  the  ll.ir  fire  loss  in  elevators 
shoned  a  decrease  from  1916  of  $082,200.     ,„    ,,,  .  "he  e 

1-  1  ,  w,th  a  further  reduction  in  the  fire  loss  of  .$l„,-^2.v-.  ,,,  , 
tctal  decrea.se  for  1017  of  S1.087.4.s.r 

.\  similar  campaign  was  made  in  iUIH.  which  showed  a  fur 
ther  re.luction  in  the  number  of  fires  and  i  f„rtl,       .  r 

*4.-;.-;.(U0  in  the  fire  loss.  '   "  ''""'"^'^  "^^ 

These  remarkable  results  were  obtained   by  educating  tbP 

he  personal  appeal  or  demand  made  bv  the  Fire  M^  sh      in  thl 
housa   ,s  of  letters  that  were  sent  oui  in  these  cam^a  g     "  t 
any  rate  we  must  agree  that    so  fnr  -.=  Tii;„   •     •  ' 

.he  .„j,,H,,  ,„  „,?,  ,„,  ,,;,-:;o,t :;:;':;::  ^r'an'," 

ed„c.,e„  ,„  ,He  e.,e„,  „,  conserving  ,^eir  ..roper,;"!'  ,■:' 

122 


t  IS  true  that  when  the  campai^rns  were  over  the  fires  be- 
gan to  mcrcase.  but  can  we  expect  to  thoroughly  educate  these 
men  .n  a  two-year  campaign?  ,  say  not.  It  wU  T Ut  a! 
reasonable  to  expect  a  chil.I  to  .graduate  with  two  years'  chLl 
.ng.  and  for  that  reason  the  work  must  «o  on  uniil  the  people 
are  thoroughly  educated  to  the  fact  that  i,'  t!,e  last  n  ^is  thev 
are  the  ones  who  pay  the  bill.  -■><».>  sis  mey 

I  aLso  want  to  state  that  the  cases  were  verv  rare  where  it 
was  necessary  to  n,voke  the  law  to  enforce  compliance 

I   might  add  that  during  the  present  year  we  have  had  a 

hands  as  to  the  phv  sical  condition  of  these  properties   from  a 
structural  and  fire  hazard  view  point. 

\\!,at  is  true  as  to  the  conservati..„  inspection  is  also  true 
as  to  cties  and  towns  where  careful  surveys  and  rechecks  have 
been  made.  I  could  name  a  number  of  cities  in  Illinois  where 
a  ma  enal  decrease  in  the  fire  loss  was  shown  in  such  cities 
after  they  had  been  carefully  inspected  and  rechecked. 

I   believe  it  goes  without  saying  that  tangible  results  can 

be  accomplished  w,th  all  classes  of  property  owners,  provided 

hat  the  proper  efforts  are  made  and  the  citizen   brought  to  a 

full  realization  that  even  though  the  property  destroyed  is  that 

ot  another,  he  is  paying  his  proportionate  part  of  that  loss. 

I  realize  that  in  ordei  to  bring  about  the  proper  results  these 
campaigns  will  necessarily  have  to  be  conducted  on  an  "extend 
s.ve  scale,  .so  as  to  take  in  all  classes.  I  know  of  no  better  me- 
d.um  by  which  these  results  can  be  accomplished  than  by  in- 
spections and  clucational  work  among  ail  classes  of  property 
owners.  ^  >^fcii\ 

The    State    Fire    .Marshal    law    provides    the    machinery    by 

h.ch  this  may  be  accomplished,  the  necessary  requisite  being 

the  men  and  energy.  ^ 

The  statement  just  read  by  Mr.  Joseph  as  to  the  dominat 
."g  K  ea  of  the  Lire  Marshal  law  is  true,     h  was  behaved  a   "e 
'•r't  f  'Tr  7'""  '""^  ^■'■^  '"^-^  --  '"  ^^-P  out  arsTn 

re  seV  wH lei    "'^       "^""'  """"  '"   '"'""'^  ^'^  '«-"  "'" 
n    n  .t  "        "'  '''''  ^'■^'""'^^ted  and  did  not  show 

anv    material   decrease  until   the   question  of  education  and   i„- 

■spections  was  .seriously  undertaken. 

It  goes  without   sayint:  th.it   the   ^rsoni.st   .hnuUi   be  given 
careful  attention   and   prosecuted   vigorously  at  every   opp^rtu 
n.ty.  even  though  the  fire  losses  sustained  ?rom  this  cause' only 

123 


It'  ■■ 


ainoiun  to  about  six  per  cent  each  year.  Ami,  by  the  way.  if 
the  statements  repeatedly  made  by  experienced  fire  prevention- 
ists  are  true,  and  1  believe  they  are,  that  eighty-five  per  cent 
of  the  fires  are  prevenial>le,  it  >eems  to  me  that  there  is  a  won- 
derful field  fitr  the  educational  conservation  inspector  or  Fire 
Marshal  to  reduce  to  the  minimum  or  remove  entirely  the  cau:;es 
that  produce  the  other  seventy-nine  per  cent  of  preventable 
fires. 

President  Fleming:  1  think  there  is  one  particular  point 
I'ire  .Marshals  oui,fht  to  renumber,  and  that  is  that  you  have 
within  your  pi>wer  and  witiiin  your  reach  that  which  will  en- 
able the  inspectors  in  connection  with  this  work  to  do  double 
duty,  to  increase  tiieir  efficiency,  and  to  remove  the  idea  of  in- 
surance from  inspections. 

Now  1  am  very  proud  to  have  every  person  representing  the 
state  of  Ohio  in  this  conservation  work  carry  a  card  from  the 
department   which    1    represent.      1    am   proud,   because   it  com- 
pletes the  co-operation   that  is  entirely  necessary   in  doing  re- 
al! v  effective  work.     Not  very  long  ago  the  Hoard  of  Education 
of  the  city  of  Columbus  asked  me  to  make  a  critical  inspec- 
tion of  all  their  schools.     Xow  they  have  a  mighty  good  force 
of  their  own.  The  newspapers  were  against  it.   The  bond  assess- 
ments for  five  years  had  failed  to  carry  and  a  most  bitter  dis- 
cussion took  place.     I  felt  it  was  a  very  great  compliment  to  the 
department.    Whom  did   I   call   for  assistance?     The   members 
of    the    Conservati(m    Association.      These    inspectors    willingly 
came  to  the  city  of  Columbus  and  gave  us  their  help.     They 
paid  their  own  expenses :  it  didn't  cost  the  state  a  cent.     They 
went  ahead  and  made  the  most  complete  survey  of  all  the  sixty- 
one  schools  in  Columbus  that  you  ever  saw  in  your  life.     As 
a  result  of  that  report,  which  was  filed  on  a  Saturday,  the  news- 
papers gave  us  wide  publicity  on  Saturday  evening,  and  on  Mon- 
day morning,  when  the   Legislature  of  the  state  of  Ohio  came 
together,  they  passed  a  law,  with  an  emergency  clause  attached, 
making  it  possible  for  the  scliools  to  be  reconstructed  for  chil- 
dren's homes.    This  made  possible  immediate  construction.    The 
Legislators  laid  aside  all   their  business  for  that  day   in  order 
that   that  emergency   clause   should   be  attached   and   the   law 
passed,  and  it  passed  without  one  dissenting  vote  in  either  the 
Senate  or  the  House,  and  immediately  thereafter  the  Board  of 
Education  had  their  architects  go  over  and  figure  the  cost  of 
every  one  of  the  improvements  recommended.     After  the  cost 
was  totaled  up,  a  bond  issue  of  several  millions  passed  on  pri- 

124 


>i.jr -.--". 


mary  day  and  carried  a  very  large  majority,  justifying  the 
whole  sentiment  of  the  city  of  Columbus.  I  am  mighty  proud 
to  havf  had  very  v  lose  contact  with  thi  •  movement  and  to  have 
I'ad  this  confidence  imposed  in  me.  and  to  realize  that  I  had  on 
my  force  a  com])etent  company  of  real  inspectors  of  large  expe- 
rience to  do  the  work. 

.\ny  lire  Marshal  in  the  United  States  or  Canada  should 
feel  proud  to  have  his  entire  conservation  force  carry  his  cre- 
dentials showing:  that  they  are  associated  with  his  department. 
If  any  person  fails  to  use  that  card  with  proper  dignity,  de- 
corum and  respect  to  the  department,  why.  the  Conservation 
Association  will  be  the  first  to  put  him  off  the  force.  All  you 
•iced  to  do  is  to  recommend  it. 

Mr.  Hussey:  I  just  want  to  pay  a  word  of  tribute  to  the 
Conservation  Association  from  my  own  state.  We  have  just 
passed  through  a  very  serious  condition  in  Kansas  in  regard  to 
the  propaganda  which  was  spread  throughout  the  country.  I  had 
only  eight  men  in  Kansas,  and  we  have  a  territory  of  prob- 
ably 150  by  250  miles  square,  or  close  to  that.  Ii  was  impossi- 
ble for  us  to  cover  that  territory  as  it  should  be  coverc<i,  but 
the  Conservation  Association,  under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Jo- 
seph, was  able  to  put  fitfy-one  men  in  the  territory  for  thirty 
days,  and  they  did  splendid  work. 

President  Fleming:  That  is  fine.  Now  just  before  we  go 
into  the  morning  program  we  have  wilh  us  Mr  Geori^r  If.  Holt, 
representing  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  United  States  of 
.America,  who  is  especially  interested  in  the  work  of  fire  pre- 
vention and  fire  protection  and  the  eliminating  of  the  fire  waste. 
Now  we  have  a  very  full  program  and  Mr.  Holt  is  anxious  to 
get  from  all  of  us  any  information  that  may  be  helpful  in  the 
development  of  this  idea  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the 
I  nited  States.  I  am  tjlad  to  introduce  him  to  the  convention  and 
hope  that  he  will  just  give  us  a  word  at  his  time. 

Mr.  Holt:  1  find  myself  in  Toronto,  where  I  have  business, 
and  notice  this  program.  1  am  very  glad  to  take  advantage  of 
the  invitation  to  siy  a  few  words.  1  presume  you  all  know 
about  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica. I'rior  to  the  war  starting  a  committee  was  hard  at  work 
in  the  study  of  the  work  of  fire  insurance  and  fire  prevention, 
?.nd  when  the  report  was  made  a  large  cinuention  was  held  in 


Philadelphia.     When  the  wa 


off.     Last  spring  the  work  was  taki 


r  came  on.  however,  that  was  shut 


n  u])  again  by  the  Chamber 


125 


'i.muii.  ..iirl  tlu'  i-oinniittfc  is  tu  I).m.j„  ^j.tln.. 

•"-nth,  wlu-n  ,t  .^fts  ,  li„l..    .      1  '^  """'■  '""'■  "^'-^t 

u  },t  IS  ,1  little  (.(1(1  tT   and  t<i  r.M>,.vf  .     .1 

cotnmittcc  in  ( )ct.,l.cT.  '    "  '"  "''"  -''"^■''■''' 


''"'"  '^'^  "'  tilt'  coiiiniittci 


'■I',  with  anv  iiifn 


nf  the 


"'•••t   vnu  can  niikc    w    „1  i   i         ■      " ""■"'<•!'  "r  siijrfrestions 

J.T.-.rln,,.„i,  !,;,„.  fi,,,  ,.,  „,,,,,  ■'"" 

"f  .fo.url.a„o,.  i„  „ J.   .,;':".'  "'     ;-l"'""»"™  "f  .l,»,  o,,„sc 


fMiinuTnal  and 


'i'<<'tosay.A,r.Chairn,an.,;„e;Xn  "'/"'"'' 

"HTcc.  an.l  the-  cnmn,itt«.    thnt  tl    '  .     '""''"  "^  ^"'"- 

r':-<-o.,,....a.ain.ha:t;;;:,:7:-;:;i!'i!:"- 


"•y   t..  .tr„  ,„  the  l)(,tt,ini  .,t   thi 


mi's  in 


"   <li>nc   ht'fiire,   l)iit    to 


-iK-h  a  \va_\    as  to  trc 


J,n"t  at 


ciinimittee  on  tin- 


"lU"   this   "(Mlpnl 

■"-rancc  and  fire  waste  of  which  I  spol^ 

e  service 


I  «i^''  "->t  only  to  tender  to  the   Fire  Marshals  th 


1^6 


ike.  hccau.se  we  have  a  lam-    nr,     ','  "'      ^^'''  ^'  ^^^^ 

a  iot  of  n,o„ev  on  a^    '   '  ^^^  ^  ^''"  -•>-'  to  spend 

-nuence  conditions  in-anT/^e:;!;,;'^  -•^-n  at.on  can  do  to 

^-"l?r.:^:^:;-iJ:-r---''----'ave 

'-.->^^::r;,,a^;;;:,x^:;d;^-^ 

til  it  comes  to  the    ime  J  '"  ""'  ^^''^  '^  up  un- 

-M.ned  to  1^::;^:;:^':''"""""'^  ■■"  ^'^^  ^^-^•^  -"^^  '>^ 

Tlu.  Secretary  read  a  communication  from  Kansas  Citv  in- 
^inn.;   the  cunventinn   there   for   I'l-^d        \u.        ,  .         .         " 
-el  Jas.  R.  ^'.H.n,.  South  Carolina  '"^  '^'"'■''  '■""'"   ^^'- 

'>e..'!:rr:s:j^:';;f.;rtr!^  ^^^^  ^':-  ^'"-^'  v.>un,  has 

I  move  that  u-e  sn     V   >i  ^"'"'^^■"t"'"*  that  ue  have  held. 

■"--ahiiity  :r:;;,:::':fr, ::::::;:::  ^^''-^--"-" 

Mr.  Van  Camp:     I  second  that.     (Carried) 
nueS'AsS^::;; ;''^''  '"''  ''  "'^^^^-^  ^-"'  ^-  ^^-i--^  Fire 

-tS;f:^^;n-;,:;- 

w     „  ^  >-"itis  at  the  same  tmie. 

.N^-  ":KM":,rVe-;;:,;,;"''  '""'■'■  ■""  ■■■>■  -•-■ "-- .«..  a. 

President  Fleming:     We    ,re  vf-r,    i  •    , 

-'">  t.s  this  nu.rnin  Jhe    luFi"rJ77  .""^'''  '"   '''''^■'"^ 
■•'  '"an  uho  has  done  ,  ,,,  ^  ^^  "^  "'''  ^  "''^''i  States. 

Has  led  in  fi:^  ent     '"  ","       •"'""'  "'  '''^  ^''"'•'^  ■'«  "^-'  who 

--e..  and  :>:;:;.:  "r';i;:Trcdr"  ^""  t  '-'  -■ 

"■>"  "•■  firemen  in  the  fire  ser  ice  H  V  f,""'  ^'^^"  '"■^^'■"^^- 
•-""'  --  'his  morning  we  .re  '  n  '  :  '?  '"■''' r' ■''''  ^"^'^^ 
■"essa^e  and  a.lvice  !„'  ZsT^"^  X  T^V  ''  ^"'''^  "^  '"^ 
Vork  Citv  will  speak  o      -'    .  '"'  •'°''"  '"*■""'''"  °'"  New 

'-i-e  in-investii;:n.::f  i^^i.^r  pI:;^..^'"^^  ^"-^'-  ^^- 

127 


hi 


il 


THE  PROPE.^  AND  MOST  EFFECTIVE  PROCEDURE 
INVESTIGATION  OF  SUSPICIOUS  FIRES. 

Chief  Kenlon:  Mr.  President  and  ^^entlemen :  It  is  rati 
unn.rtunate  that  I  should  he  i)resentefl  with  such  a  fflowi 
eulojry.  I  find  it  very  hard  to  live  up  to  the  standards  that  are 
for  ine  by  other  men.  I  do  not  consider  mvself  the  <rreatest  F 
Chief  in  North  America.  I  am  a  very  humble  individual  and  ar 
thing  that  I  accomplish  in  life  is  through  hard  plugging  and  kec 
mg  at  the  game. 

I  am  asked  to  discuss  before  this  convention  the  pro^ 
methods  of  mvestigating  suspicious  fires.  As  I  sat  back  tht 
yesterday  and  this  morning  F  really  felt  that  I  was  on  the  wro 
end  of  the  Ime  and  that  I  am  decidedly  more  competent  to  d 
cuss  methods  of  fire  prevention  or  methods  of  fire-fighting  th 
I  am  to  come  before  a  trained  body  of  investigators  and  attem 
to  tell  them  how  to  investigate  suspicious  fires.  Itut  really 
am  here  this  morning  in  obedience  to  the  directions  of  the  'l 
ternational  Association  of  Fire  Engineers,  in  obedience  to  a  n 
olution  passed  at  the  convention  in  Kansas  Citv  that  I  shou 
come  here  as  a  delegate  to  invite  this  very  active  and  intellige 
body  of  men  to  co-operate  with  us  in  trving  to  establish  a  s\ 
tern  of  a  real  permanent  standard.  That  is  the  reason  I  am  he 
and  I  am  going  to  ask  you  now  to  c.-op  :  ite  with  me  and  wi 
the  other  Fire  Chiefs  throughout  the  countrv.  I  have  gleam 
many  new  ideas  from  my  trip  to  Toronto.  '  I  can  see  what 
wonderful  force  the  Fire  Marshals  are.  I  can  see  what  infl 
ential  offices  they  hold  in  their  several  states,  and  I  can  readi 
see  how  they  can  help  out  to  a  very  great  degree  in  procurir 
fire  apparatus,  in  helping  to  bring  the  Fire  Departments  throug 
out  the  country  up  to  a  really  efficient  standard.  May  I  r 
cite  an  instance  to  illustrate  the  point. 

Two  weeks  ago  I  was  motoring  through  the  northern  pa 
ol  the  state  of  New  York,  and  as  I  drove  along,  the  afternoc 
seciiK-d  to  cloud  up.  the  atmosphere  became  heavy,  and  I  sai 
"We  must  be  running  into  a  forest  fire."  A  few  miles  moi 
showed  that  it  was  not  a  forest  fire  we  were  coming  into,  bi 
really  a  town  on  fire.  I  drove  in  on  the  edge  of  the  town.  Thei 
were  three  or  four  blocks  of  buildings  in  flames,  fire  spreadin 
in  all  directions  and  not  a  single  piece  of  fire  apparatus  or  a  sii 
gle  thing  on  the  ground  to  combat  that  fire.  Now  here's  tV 
point.  There  was  on  the  ground  a  man  whom  your  highly  hoi 
ored  Chairman   calls  a   pretty  good  fireman,  but  that  fiVema 

128 


was  absolutely  helpless.  I'-  was  no  better  than  his  wife  who 
was  sittni-  alon-side  of  hin,  in  the  car,  because  there  was  noth- 
II  R  that  he  could  use.  .\ow  that  is  a  general  condition  ail  over 
and  from  my  experience  in  the  fire  game  I  know  that  there  is  a 
iTcat  deal  of  academic  discussion  and  a  great  deal  of  theorizing, 
hut  from  my  experience  in  the  game  the  very  first  thing  to  do  is 
to  have  a  well  .r.ijanized,  well  tr  ncd  and  well  equipped  Fire 
department. 

Emphasizin.y-  the  matter  of  co-operation,  I  intend  to  ap- 
point a  Committee  on  Fire  I'revention  and  if  1  can  procure  it  I 
inteiul  to  use  the  best  i,rains  in  this  country  on  that  commit- 
tee. And,  Mr.  President,  it  would  be  a  great  delight,  a  great  plea- 
->ire  to  me.  to  have  each  I'ire  Marshal  in  the  several  states  on 
tnat  committee.  I  am  sure  you  will  find  no  fault  at  having  a 
I'lre  Chie;  at  the  hea.I  of  it.  1  intend  to  select  .some  able  man. 
probably  McDonnell  of  Chicago,  a  very  bright,  live  fellow,  with 
.1  following  of  men  like  Franklin  VVentworth  of  Boston.  Mr. 
lleming.  Mr.  Ilussey.  and  so  on  down  the  line;  and  to  inter- 
sperse them  with  the  good  active  mind.s— and  then  let  us  start 
a  real  fire  prevention  fight  all  along  the  line. 

Now  the  best  I  can  do  is  to  throw  away  the.se  written  pa- 
pers and  talk  to  you  right  from  the  hilt,  as  it  were,  as  to  just 
what  we  do  down  in  New  York  ^^  v.  Every  day  except  Sun- 
day we  have  three  hundred  tra  ,  -men,  trained  inspectors 
working  in  the  field  for  eight  h  ,ry  day.     We  make  any- 

where from  a  million  and  a  half  .o  two  million  inspecions  each 
year.  There  is  a  follow-up  inspection  all  the  time.  In  addi- 
tion to  that  we  have,  of  course,  a  very  liberally  organized  Fire 
Prevention  liureau.  In  that  bureau  we  have  trained  engineers, 
al'out  fifty,  and  when  a  case  has  to  go  to  court,  one  of  those 
trained  engineers  goes  out  with  the  fircmt  and  completes  the 
nispection  the  day  before  or  a  few  hours  before  the  case  is  called 
In  that  way  we  have  very  little  trouble.  But  the  engineers  do 
more  than  that.  The  citizen  has  some  rights  and  the  ordinary 
citizen,  as  I  find  it.  when  he  gets  a  fire  prevention  order,  an  or- 
der to  do  thus  and  so,  is  just  as  bewildered  as  if  you  handed 
him  a  copy  of  some  of  the  writings  of  Xenophon  and  asked  him  to 
read  and  translate  it  from  the  original  Greek.  He  knows  abso- 
lutelv  nothing  about  it.  He  comes  into  the  office  all  puzzled 
and  perturbed.  Those  engineers  are  there  to  set  him  right  but 
even  ,n  that  there  is  a  danger  of  favoritism,  a  danger  that  some- 
I'.Kly  will  see  the  Fire  Marshal  and  have  the  order  nullified  or 
whatever  you  like  to  call  it.    I  heard  one  of  your  bright  fellows 

129 


if 


p 


•  !l 


!ii 


.  f; 


yesterday  deplore  the  fact  that  many  of  the  Fire  Chi.U 

facto  kicked  out  when  a  neu^  VI.  /  '  "^""^  'P'" 

you  gentlemen  on  being  appointed.  ■''^""'^'""-  '  -'"gratulate 
Now  to  take  up  the  subject  assigned  to  me      I        m 

word  or  two  if  I  am  not  taking  too  mud,  tim^  '   "'"  ''''  " 

President  Fleming:    Xo.  you  go  right  ahea.l. 

It  is  known  as  the  Bureau  of  InS^^i^    '^e;:t:  'T'"' 
I>e  .t  suspicious  or  not,  is  investi-rated      rLr  '  ,'"''  ''^''^• 

carefullv  kept  record  of  everv  f  "e        ,'    /  "  '  '''''"'"'"^'  ^"*' 

must    be    preserved       'i'h„  P'i>;^ical  evidence 

H-re  are  cR-taH::,  bso  t  .rtrtlrThv''""^^'^^  T^"  ^  ''''^^ 
no  one  is  permitted  to  enter  thabu'  "  '"  ""'  ''''''  ^"'^ 
or  a  high  official  of  the  Pi         .  ^  "'^"''^  ^  ^*^*'  ""'"^ 

^shal  or  one!  t  Ass  ia  t  Pire  ^^?T"'  """  ^"^  ^^"''^  ^^'- 
to  make  his  inves  i4    on      T  V     ""  '"'''''  ""  ^'^*-'  &^°""^ 

ined.    Andh  r    ietme"'    ,f \">'''^'"«^  ^l^"  i^  carefully  exam- 
.-iiiu  nere  itt  me  say  that  we  m  e-ht  tilk  imtJi  r»  ■ 

we  might  rea<l  the  papers,  we  might X.,t1  ^'^'"'"'^^^y' 

an  endless  period  of  time/and  v"f  wa  ts  rjL:  '"'^  "'' 
penence  the  real  thing  that  counts  i.Z  ^  ""^  "*• 

keenness  and   the   perceptn^  t^.Z^  ^^"f  r"'.  ^'^^ 

tnat  IS  the  real  pojnt.     Well    after  th-  m-.,  i    i        ^''^  nim— 

tographer  must  be  an  expert  a' d  must  be  ibl     ■  ^ 

and  qualify  as  an  exnnrt     u  ?  ^"^  ^'"  '"*°  <^""rt 

y  as  an  expert.    He  must  know  his  angles  and  how  he 

130 


I   ii 


took  that  picture  and  all  about  it.  and  everything  that  would  lead 
»P  to  estahhshn.g  a  motive  for  the  fire,  in  case  it  is  determined 
that  tlie  .,re  was  made  for  the  purpose  of  gain.  And  there  vou 
nave  got  to  look  tor  your  motive,  a  man's  fi-anoial  condition. 
Jill  about  him. 

i;ut  wc   find  another  very   important  thing.  Mr.   Ciiairman 
and  gentlemen,  and  that   is   the   examination   of   the  man    who 
discovered  the  fue-that  is  most  important,  together  with  the 
promptness  ,,t  the  investigati.m.     When   I  call  for  a  Marshal  I 
usually  get  one  within  fifteen  minutes.     Now  you  know  that  is 
nnpos-,,.le  ,n  your  great  western   states  and  places  around  the 
country.     Mr.   Fleming  could  not  be  got  if  he  was  in  Colum- 
bus-he could  not  be  in  Cincinnati  as  well.     Mr.  Hussev  could 
not  travel  m  a  week,  he  says,  all  over  1.2.^0  miles,  but  the  idea 
IS  to  get  ti-re  as  quickly  as  possible.    Tiien  the  statements  that 
you  get  should  be.  to  my  mind,  in  affidavit  form.     You  must  not 
K-ve  a  man  an  opportunity  of  changing  his  mind.      V„„  must  pin 
him  down  and  hold  him  to  it.     It  is  in  that  wav,  1  believe,  that 
the  number  of  fires  that  have  been  .set  for  gain  in  the  United 
States  have  been  very  materially  reduced. 

In  inclusion  I  want  again  to  ask  and  hope  for  your  active 
co-operation  for  the  next  year  or  two,  and  I  believe  if  you  will 
give  It  to  us  we  will  put  a  great  big  dent  in  the  fire  loss  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada. 

],ei  nie  add  iliat  the  reason  I  did  not  prepare  a  paper  is  be- 
cause 1  dislike  too  much  going  into  the  field  that  is  absolutely 
and  positively  the  right  and  prerogative  of  the  other  man.  And 
when  vou  go  into  the  field  of  fire-fighting  and  want  to  estab- 
lish schools  and  colleges  for  firemen,  take  mv  advice— I  think 
1  am  competent  to  advise  on  this  point— and  select  trained, 
competent  firemen  to  do  the  teaching. 

Xow  I  am  delighted  and  pleased  at  mv  trip  to  Toronto.  It 
h-«s  been  very  instructive  and  I  sincerely  congratulate  this  con- 
vention on  their  very  .splendid  and  able  papers  that  have  been 
read  and  discussed  here. 

DISCUSSION. 
Mr.  Richman:  1  would  like  to  ask  Chief  Kenlon  a  ques- 
tion. Woul.l  it  be  possible.  Chief,  for  the  Fire  Marshals  in 
the  United  States  to  work  out  a  plan  with  vou  in  co-operation 
with  the  trained  department  of  New  York,  to  conduct  a  train- 
ing scht)ol  for  firemen,  so  as  to  make  it  a  success ?  The  diffi- 
culty  is  tha     a   Fire  Marshal  cannot  afford  to  give  a  trained 

131 


;![ 


'I' 


I  if    ! 


:  ;l.  1 


1    ? 


po.i..o  ,„  ro,;::. 'rr  «j:,;r ";;,»™';' """  ■•  --e 

be  used.  "J,&e,-,tion,  i  think  it  could  certainly 

n,o.=,t,  .^'otT„,4:^.3t;;,™"„r,r,  ir""-"™^  ^""^  -- 

"e  graduate,,  of  ,l,e  New  V     k,.'"clf  ■■","".'  '^»"""  """ 

f^n,u,hout  thet^nt  "th't^'i^e^:;.::^-'  °^  ''°^^  -^^"^^  '^"'"- 

and  establish  schools  in  t    S  r        "    '^"'"P'^^^nt  to  organize 

are  the  ones  to         i  t  ^l   "  t'''"  v'  '"'  '  '""^  '^^^  ^'->' 

-   very  competent  and  ab ^  C    ef  D     r"'""'''  '""•^^  ^'"^^'• 
St.  Paul.  Claicv  in  Milwaukee     T  "  "  ^  ^^'^"^  ^^'^'^^  '" 

line.     But  anarWron    th  .  ^  ^■=^"  8^°  ""  a'l  the  way  down  the 

ally  offic  r  'X/'duaterf  ""1°'  ^'"^^  '"^"^  ''-^  ^^^  - 

Philadelphia.  ^' s:^lTy:::o^T  ^■"^"^^'•  ■- 

tonio.  Texa-    and  uU  thn  ,    ^^"^^o^^er,  down  to  San  An- 

-•erv  place  '  s"  th        r  T^h      "  '"  """"'^^  ^"^  California- 
far  apart  that  we  realK  dil-  T  "'"^  "  '''''  "^  ''^^'^  ''-"  -' 

F.re^r!;;:?r;::;bi:n;!'t:::run^:'r  ^^^^  -^^^  --^  ^^^ 

firemen  to  leave  his  position  "    f"  -    o.  I"  f  ""'^  °^  ^'^^^^ 

a  position  that  he  cannot  afford  to  accent   he  '•  "'  '"  "'''^' 

vices  of  thic  ma„  k  .  accept,  he  cannot  pet  th-  ser- 

vices ot  this  man  because  ,t  is  a  political  position 

n.adr:::e^;^::tf  co^.:;;^ •  ^^^«'^---  chief  Kemon 
on  their  vi.'it'to\t  Yo7  r  renTir""?  °'  ^'^  ^'''^  '^^^"'^^'^ 
fully.  He  gave  this  sugges"  on  hat  ifanT  V'  r^  ''''''''"' 
choose  a  man  of  intelWfnn  -f  "   P^''^"'^"'"  ^^tate  would 

care  of  that  par;i':  1^ ^  k^T  )  'r^r^  '  T^?  "^^"  ^^  '^'^ 
would  only  cost  the  fare^n  V         v  "'   '"^    ^^^^'    '^'^•■'^-    it 

o.  hi,  „ea  s.     h:11',";°  e'r.  "^^^^^ ^^^"  f - 

Hj.  .u.  „a,.e  a.  .a^  1---'- ^s  r*  )i;r,::r 


132 


Mr.  Nettleton:  Mr.  President,  it  was  Chief  Kenlon  who 
sugfjested  the  idea  to  me  of  holding  a  Fire  College  in  Minne- 
sota. I  know  that  it  will  not.  of  course,  in  any  way  compare  with 
the  Fire  College  he  conducts  in  Xew  York  City,  Lut  we  hope 
to  get  a  s'nrt  along  that  line  and  if  it  is  a  success,' which  we  hope 
It  will  be,  we  may  make  it  a  permanent  or  annual  affair. 

I  don't  know  how  the  rest  of  you  feel  about  it,  but  I  feel  that 
I  have  gotten  a  great  deal  of  good'  advice  from  listening  to  Chief 
Kenlon's  address  and  I  move  that  we  extend  him  a  rising  vote 
of  thanks  for  his  inspiring  and  instructive  talk  of  this  morning. 

President  Fleming:  Might  I  suggest  that  you  add  to  that 
a  very  definite  promise  of  co-operation  along  any  of  the  lines 
that  he  has  set  out. 

Mr.  Nettleton:    Yes,  sir. 

Motion  seconded  by  Mr.  Hussey.    (Carried  unanimously). 

President  Fleming:  I  am  very  much  pleased  to  have  with 
us  today  Mr.  M.  S.  Philip,  President  of  the  Illinois  Firemen's 
Association  and  also  representing  the  National  Firemen's  As- 
sociation. We  are  very  glad  to  have  him  here  as  President  of 
this  organization.  Mr.  Gamber,  our  Secretary-Treasurer,  rep- 
resented us  at  your  convention,  and  Mr.  Hu.ssey  at  a  similar 
organization  in  the  west,  and  we  are  very  glad  to  welcome  at 
this  time  to  the  convention  Mr.  M.  S.  Philip. 

Chief  Philip:  Mr.  President,  and  members  of  the  Fire  Mar- 
shals' Association:  The  president  has  a  very  pleasing  way  of 
introducing  any  speaker.  I  think  perhaps  he  appreciates,  or 
anticipates  up  to  a  point  when  the  man  appears,  and  then  some- 
times the  realization  is  not  what  the  anticipation  was  expected 
to  be. 

There  is  just  one  point  that  struck  me,  as  representing  the 
firemen  from  Illinois.  The  firemen  are  the  practical  end  of 
the  game,  that  is,  they  arc  the  manual  end  of  it.  I  don't  know 
of  any  other  way  to  express  it.  They  are  not  trained  in  the  in- 
vestigation of  fires.  They  know  little  about  it,  generally  speak- 
ing, and  it  struck  me  that  the  Fire  Marshals  in  their  differ- 
ent states  would  Ijc  a  very  effective  means  of  fully  training 
them  along  that  line.  The  firemen  at  a  fire,  after  it  is  put  out, 
so  far  as  the  investigation  is  concerned,  would  then  act  in  the 
nature  of  a  first  aid  in  carrying  out  such  work  as  would  be 
needed  f«ir  laying  the  foundation  for  the  investigation  which  in- 
evitably follows  suspicious  fires  by  the  State  Fire  Marshal  or 
his  deputy.     The  Fire  Chiefs  in  the  smaller  towns  are  thrown 

133 


n  the.r  own  resources  in  a  j^reat  many  ways,  hctl,  in  fighting 
.re    and  ,n  .nvcst.gatinK.  an.i  if  a  little  training  could  bf  co" 

the  F L:  m'  Ty  '■:''  ""'^  '"^"^■^'■"^  ">■  ^  ^'-'  ^-^'i^-  'W. 
he  Fire  Marshal  s  department,  it  would  give  them  in  in^i.rht 

-to  mvestigation  that  would  help  the   Fire  MarX,    a  er  on 
ra^rdiff-'uT  '  '''"'   ''-'-'-   '^   ••^*''  ^'^  investigatioVL- 
Chief  Kenlon  of  New  York  has  covere.l  the  ground  in  regard 

wa,u   o  i        '""'","  ^'"'  "'■■  "'"  "-^  '"  ^"'  '"^^  '»  f-"^-.  l^ut  1 
uant  to  say  a  won)  about  a  thought  that  struck  me  the  other  dav 

:':;.': '"■  " 7'. '^'f''' ^'^-^ ^'-'p— ^- «'  >- 

the  time  th.r'"  '"■■  '"""  ''^  --Peration.     I   thought  at 

he  t.me  that  he  was  somewhat  remiss  in  not  naming  one  that 

th,H,ght  was  very  important,  at  least  from  the  standpo  nt  o 

the  f.reman  who  extinguishes  fires  everv  dav.     It  is  not  Ih 

necessary  that  prevention  of  fire  be  undertaken  bv  the  different 

hambers  of  commerce,  manufacturers'  associations  and  e v    J 

h.ng  of    hat  nature,  but  we  must  absolutely  have  the  co-opera- 

pTral'":  r  T"r''""-  -^1  I  «'-  would  bespeak  the^  - 
operation  of  the  Fire  departments. 

don-7r'  """"T  "'T'"  "■"  ^^'"^wl'-t  narrow  in  their  views      [ 
don     know  why     J'ossibly  it  is  because  we  are  shut  up   "ehind 
the  four  walls  of  the  fire  house  for  so  long  a  period      \el"e 
not  thrown  into  contact  with   the  outside  vvorli  e  ough  to  e 
broad  v,ews.    Now  a  visit  from  the  Fire  Marshal  or  h.^'^^^utfes 

tTe   inesof  r  '"""   ""'   '^'^""■"^  ^^   -operation   along 

the  lines  of  fire  prevention.  I  think,  would  be  well    eceived     Sev 

rec  .  the  F.re  Marshal  s  of.ice  was  looked  upon   with  a  great 

I  am  happv   to  say.  so  far  as  I  can  see.  that  feeling  has  been 
done  away  with  entirely,  and  so  far  as  the  great  I^all-  of  the 

-remen  in  Ill,„„,s  are  concerned,  there  is  nothfng  but  t;  great 
e  t  desire  to  co-operate  with  that  office  in  everv  respect'  I  am 
pleased.  Mr.  President,  to  be  able  to  say  I  .m  s'peakh .g  for  inT- 

Mr.  Gamber  has  tendered  the   Illinois  Association  an  invi 
tation  to  join  this  Association  and   I   would   suggest   t       F  ^ 
Marshals   of  the   different    states    work  along  the    sLn     lin  T 
The  men  ,n  the  Fire  departments  are  a  force\i  fire"    re  -et ion 
H^  they  are  properly  utilized.     U'c  utilise  them   in  our  depart 
ment  and  we  find  it  is  a  good  thing.    We  find  that  it  givelus  a 

134 


mighty  force  of  deputies  right  on  the  ground  that  can  work  up 
to  a  certain  ]>oint,  at  any  rate,  and  help  out  along  that  line. 

Mr.  Richman:  I  would  like  to  suggest  that  Chief  Kenlon 
furnish  to  the  .\s:*nciation  the  names  of  those  2.Vt  graduates 
over  the  country.  1  think  a  solution  of  the  prohlem  will  be 
found  if  the  Fire  Marshal  can  go  to  the  city  and  pick  out  a 
first-class  fireman  where  he  is  acquainted  with  the  officials  and 
get  the  officials  to  grant  that  man  an  indefinite  leave  of  absence, 
so  that  he  can  come  back  to  his  position  afterwards. 

Chief  Kenlon:  ("■entletnen,  I  dislike  very  much  taking  up 
vour  time.  1  know  you  have  far  better  and  more  able  men  to 
<!iscuss  these  to])ics,  but  let  me  tell  you  that  there  is  entirely 
ttx)  much  of  the  academic  element  in  this  thing.  There  isn't 
a  man  living  in  all  the  world  that  carries  in  his  mind  or  in  his 
head  all  the  ramifications  of  the  several  branches  of  fire-fighting. 
In  the  Xew  York  Fire  College  there  are  experts  on  different  lines. 
We  have  frame  construction,  we  have  what  we  call  old  style 
commercial  buildings ;  we  have  modern  loft  buildings ;  we  have 
fancy  homes,  costing  anywhere  from  five  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars to  twenty  million :  we  have  shop  fires :  we  have  all  the 
things  that  enter  into  the  life  of  a  wonderful  cosmopolitan  city — 
manufacturing,  shipping,  all  that  kind  of  thing— and  no  one 
living  man  can  carry  all  the  details  in  his  head.  You  couldn't 
pick  out  any  one  man  in  this  country  and  take  him  into  a 
class-room  and  let  him  carry  a  class  from  the  A.  B.  C.'s  up  to 
the  top.  \\  t  :ive  men  that  know  the  business  down  to  the  last 
word  in  every  particular  branch.  Now  I  could  not  recommend 
that  to  you  at  all  because  I  would  not  be  doing  right,  and  there 
is  no  doubt  that  there  are  very  few  cities  able  to  establish  such 
a  college  as  that,  because  they  cannot  get  instructors. 

President  Fleming:  Just  before  we  pass  to  the  ne.xt  item— I 
wish  we  could  have  a  talk  from  each  one  on  this  subject,  but 
our  time  is  very  limited — I  will  just  a.sk  if  some  of  the  men  rep- 
resenting this  phase  of  the  work  in  Canada  will  stand,  so  that 
we  may  know  them.  We  have  Chief  France  of  Woodstock,  rep- 
resenting the  Dominion  Fire  Chiefs'  .Association;  we  have  Chief 
Corbett,  representing  the  industrial  fire  protection  and  fire  pre- 
vention of  the  Massey  Harris  Company:  and  also  Deputy  Chief 
Sinclair  of  the  city  of  Toronto.  I  am  just  going  to  a.sk  those  gen- 
tlemen to  stand,  so  that  wc  may  get  acquainted  with  them.  I 
am  sure  we  all  appreciate  their  being  here  today  and  extend  to 
them  all  our  heartiest  ct>-operation. 

135 


I  i 


I!  '  * 


ml  >  ^ 


"..  .'r:;,';::  srr;  jl"™:"  -">-  --" "'« - '-'  ^»" 

Michigan  ^   "  '""■  '''•"•  '"•»■-■  """™t  work  in 

;Xr.;:;:r:!;:.'::^^!n^-.'H»'i;;'HnX": 

i"K  but  shreds.     We  ncLlit.  ''"'''  ""''  ''""^'^  "°''^- 

subje^^  ereat  or  little      1  .,  "'""''  "^"  '''^  ^^*^  °"  »'"« 

vou  ha.c  done  and  aecnmnr"  ^'"  ^■''-^'  '^^^^'^  ^^^^^  things 
is  a  little  ha  d  to  pi  k  Zt'  he  .  Tf  "T" "^  ■"^■^'^^'  '''''''  '"^^'^^ 
interest  to  you      Th    suMc    i  f   ''  ,''  '""  ""^  "'"  '^  "'' 

•>ear  with  L  ve^;  f;::;;;^:;  ^^C;-;^  ^^^^  ^ -/-  wi,, 

treat  it.  vvnun  l  shall  attempt  to 

This  subject  naturally  divides  itself  i„.     . 
both  of  which  I  shall  try  I  deal  Iri      v      T  ""''''•   ^'^^ 

suits  of  the  Fire  Marshal      wnrL  '    u  ^'  '"'^^^  °f  ^^c  re- 

reachinj,  and  one  of  w^i  "h  ",  '  ''''''"''  '"^  '''•°«^-  ^^  ''ar- 

than  prospective  and  I  a:t h  ^dTo'^  h.^^rj^"''^^  '''''' 
."g  .->  outline  in  a  small  way  the  re.u  t  '  f  th  "T  f  """"'" 
been  accomplished  by  the  r4  Varsh!        '-     "^^  ''"' 

I  an,  firmly  of  the  opinion  that  the  a  1 1 1"^ ^  ^T^'^^'  '°^ 
■n.  than  were  originally  hoped  for' by  2  r t^sr;^^^^^^'- 

LouiS^a    w'hich'laf i^r  '%t   "°^''   ^'°^^'^   ^°"°-d   bv 
sin,  Oklahoma    Mrh'VTeJtr:'^  ''■""^^°'^'  ^^-- 
vania.  Indiana  and  Ss   to  wh        ,'     T'  "''■"°'^'   P^""^>'' 
of  other  states  by  recent  ^n^^r  T  ^'"  "^^^^  ^  ""'"ber 

there  are  stil,  more  to  foHow         "^  °'  ^'^^■'-  ^^^''^'^^--^  -d 
The  work  in  the  beginn.ing  was  necessarily  that  of  pioneer- 

i36 


mm 


int;.  The  trail  had  to  he  blazed  and  foundations  laid  for  the 
structural  work  of  ordinarces.  educational  campaigns,  arson 
prosecutions,  statutes  giviny:  power  for  the  removal  of  old  and 
dilapidated  buildings,  and  for  the  control  and  management  of 
moving  picture  theaters  as  well  as  for  inspection,  including  rules 
and  regulations  fur  the  government  of  special  hazards.  How 
well  this  has  been  done  may  best  be  ascertained  by  a  glance  at 
the  progress  made. 

It  is  a  very  regrettable  fact  that  the  state  of  \ew  York 
which  made  such  a  splendid  beginning,  should  have  found  it 
necessary  in  so  short  a  time  to  discontinue  the  Fire  .Marshal 
law.  .Much  of  the  opposition  to  the  department  came  from  the 
large  property  holder.s-owners  of  tenements,  factories  amuse- 
ment halls,  summer  hotels  and  resorts,  all  of  which  were  poorly 
constructe.l.  To  comply  with  the  Fire  Marshal's  orders  on  such 
Iniildiu^s  meant  a  large  outlay  of  money.  The  p-essure  brought 
to  bear  by  this  class  of  owners  was  largely  responsible  for  the 
discontinuance  of  the  department. 

During  the  twenty-seven  months  in  which  this  department 
operated  more  than  ■^:>^>  summer  hotels  and  resorts  were  in- 
spected and  requirements  made,  looking  to  the  safety  of  their 
guests  and  of  the  proi)erty  communicating  with  and  adjoining 
them.  It  was  among  the  first  states  to  take  steps  toward  he 
regulation  of  explosives  as  well  as  the  inspection  of  boilers. 

In  this  state  the  campaign  of  education  was  conducted  very 
largely  as  it  has  been  in  other  states.  Pamphlets  were  sent 
out  warning  against  the  fire  peril,  giving  instructions  to  in- 
spectors and  assistants,  and  through  the  press  the  public  was 
inf  med  of  the  fire  waste  of  the  country  and  of  methods  by 
wh' J.  H  might  be  reduced.  In.structi.  ns  for  fire  drills  in  schools 
and  i,i  iries  were  prepared  and  distributed  broadcast  through- 
out the  state.  Many  fire  prevention  addresses  were  made  be- 
fore chambers  of  commerce  and  firemen's  conventions,  and  fire 
protection  an<l  fire  prevention  clubs  were  urged  in  the  different 
communities.  Fire  escapes  were  ordered  placed  where  they 
seemed  to  be  most  needed  for  the  protection  of  life.  The  fact  that 
during  the  twenty-seven  months  in  which  this  law  was  in  opera- 
tion there  were  fifty-four  convictions  for  arson  ought  to  be  con- 
clusive evidence  that  the  department  should  have  been  continued 
and  that  great  benefit  might  have  been  derived  from  its  further 
operation. 

I  speak  more  at  length  regarding  matters  in  New  York  than 

137 


if 


I  shall  in  other  states  l)ecause  of  the  fact  that  it  is  the  onlv  state, 
so  far  as  I  am  ahh-  to  learn,  that  has  seen  fit  to  take  any  hack- 
ward  step  in  the  matter  of  fire  prevention  and  the  elimination  of 
fire  waste  hy  the  rejjeal  of  its  l-ire  Marsha!  law. 

The  work  of  the  I'ire  Marshals  throughout  the  United 
States  must  of  necessity  i)e  considerably  diversified.  There  is 
a  common  fjround  for  all  where  the  work  is  carried  on  in  prac- 
tically the  same  wa> .  This  inclu.les  the  general  cducati.Mial 
work  through  hulletins,  school  texts  and  the  press,  the  work  of 
running  down  the  incendiary  and  the  general  inspection  work 
with  a  view  to  removing  the  ordinary  hazardous  conditions 
which  are  common  in  every  community. 

However,  different  sections  of  the  countrv  have  different 
problems,  with  which  the  Fire  Marshals  must  cope  in  an  en- 
tirely different  way.  In  the  manufacturing  districts  the  haz- 
ards of  the  factory  are  many  and  safety  for  the  lives  of  the  many 
persons  working  therein  as  well  as  for  the  great  i)ropertv  values 
must  he  provided.  Here  \se  find  the  necessity  for  the  installa- 
tion of  automatic  sprinklers,  ade(|uate  fire  escapes  and  the  hold- 
ing of  fire  drills  for  workers.  Compare  this  with  the  time  when 
none  of  these  things  were  thought  of  aid  it  is  ea.sy  to  see  what 
progress  has  been  made  in  the  fire  jirevention  movement. 

In  the  south  where  we  have  the  great  cotton  industrv  we 
have  another  need,  as  great  in  its  way  as  anv  of  the  others. 
Just  prior  to  and  during  the  war  the  need  for  special  work  he- 
came  particularly  great,  due  to  the  high  price  of  cotton,  cou- 
pled with  enemy  activities.  Much  credit  is  due  the  Fire  Mar- 
shals of  those  states  for  the  work  done  bv  them,  especiallv  dur- 
ing that  period. 

In  the  middle  west,  which  coni])rises  verv  largelv  tiie  agri- 
cultural and  wheat  growing  section  of  the  countrv, 'conditions 
have  been  somewhat  chaotic  and  unsettled.  Certain  bolshevik 
ideas  have  prevailed  which  have  caused  unrest  in  some  locali- 
ties to  the  extent  that  a  number  of  losses  have  occurred  which 
have  been  attributed  particularly  to  this  menace.  The  Fire  Mar- 
shals of  these  states  have  had  to  meet  and  cope  with  this  con- 
dition and  from  all  information  available  it  seem^  that  they  have 
met  and  solved  the  problem  in  a  manner  eminentlv  satisfactory 
not  only  to  themselves,  but  to  those  most  deeply  interested. 

The  effect  of  the  activities  of  the  Fire  Marshals  throughout 
the  United  States  has  been  in  my  judj^ment  far-reachin-  .nd 
productive  of  splendid  results.     Perhaps  no  other  single  organi- 

I3« 


I 
1 


zation  has  contributed  more  to  the  pnttectii'n  nf  foods,  food  pro- 
ducts, munitions  and  otlier  neccssitit^  svliich  hiiped  to  make 
the  winnitip  of  the  war  i)ossihle.  than  did  tliest-  nien  tliroujjh  tiie 
conservation  associations  of  their  several  states.  Careful,  con- 
scientious and  efficient  ins])ections  were  tnade  of  all  food  pri'- 
ducinp  centers.  All  warehouses  and  factories  that  had  to  do  with 
and  were  really  the  hone  and  sinew  of  the  conflict  were  carefully 
jTuarded,  inspected  and  kept  as  free  as  |)ossil)le  from  the  con- 
ditions which  minht  produce  loss,  which  loss  would  mean  not 
only  loss  of  a  ])ecuniary  nature,  hut  a  loss  of  time  and  produc- 
tive activity  and  a  hinderinj^  of  the  wheels  of  i)rof;ress. 

Just  here  I  desire  to  say  a  word  of  af)prcciatioii  of  the  splen- 
did work  done  liy  the  conser\ation  and  lire  prevention  associa- 
tions over  till-  country  rind  of  the  aid  they  have  rendered  tn  the 
Fire  Marshals  not  only  previous  to,  liut  durinp  the  strenuou> 
period  of  the  war.  in  my  own  slate  I  ha\e  had  the  most  sin- 
cere co-operation  from  both  these  organizations.  We  have  work- 
ed hand  in  hand  and  if  any  jiarticular  credit  may  come  to  the 
work  of  my  dei)artment  it  is  in  no  small  degree  due  these  asso- 
ciations. 

'i'o  my  mind  no  in<ire  patriotic  service  could  have  been  ren- 
dered the  cotmtry  in  the  time  of  its  need  than  the  work  which 
was  done  by  the  Fire  Marshals  of  North  Ainerica.  Xow  that  the 
conflict  is  ended  and  the  ilays  of  reconstruction  are  with  us,  our 
work  is  no  less  important.  The  country  is  underjjoinj^  a  period 
of  the  greatest  prosperity  in  its  history.  Possibly  more  money  is 
being  made  in  the  channels  of  trade  than  ever  before.  Xaturally 
there  is  an  inclination  to  grow  and  to  e-xjiand  which  in  some  in- 
stances may  even  go  beyond  reasonable  bounds.  Owing  to  this 
unrest  it  behooves  us,  as  officials  into  whose  keeping  have  been 
given  vast  i)hysical  resources,  to  be  ever  alert,  np  and  doing,  con- 
tributing in  the  future  as  wc  have  in  the  i)ast.  our  best  efforts 
toward  making  the  country  econt)micalIy  safe,  sane  and  careful 
in  the  things  tl  at  bring  about  fire  waste,  which  has  become  rec- 
ognized as  one  of  the  great  drains  of  today  upon  the  American 
]ieople. 

Some  of  the  brightest  minds  of  the  country  have  given  of 
the  best  years  of  their  li\es  to  the  cause  of  fire  prevention. 
Among  these  are  Ole  O.  Roe  of  Iowa,  Walter  H.  Bennett  of  Illi- 
nois, John  T.  Winship  of  Michigan,  Robt.  W.  Hargadine  of  Min- 
nesota. Bert  IS.  Buckley  of  Ohio,  Chas.  \V.  Schuyler  of  Tennes- 
see, who  was  followed  by  Ed  M.  Gilten water.-.,  and  W.  E.  L^>ng- 
ley  of  Indiana,  who  have  retired  from  official  life  and  are  giv- 

139 


!    i 


I   '• 


ing  their  attention  to  the  pursuits  of  their  usual  avocations. 
They  were  conscientious  in  their  work  to  the  fullest  measure. 
The  degree  of  success  attained  by  a  number  of  these  men  should 
be  an  inspiration  and  incentive  to  the  rest  of  us. 

The  country  is  fast  becoming  fully  awakened  to  the  possi- 
bilities along  these   lines  and  the  need  of  fire  prevention  and 
fire  protection  is  not  unly  recognized  by   individuals,  corpora- 
tions,^ municipalities  and  states,  but  by  the  government  as  well. 
Possibly  no  one  single  factor  played  a  more  important  part 
in  the  conservation  w.ik  in  this  countrv  during  the  war  than 
the  National  Board  of  Fire  L-nderuriters.      The  assistance  ren- 
dered to  the  government  by  them  was  of  untold  value  and  pos- 
sibly much  of  the  information  could  not  have  been  obtained  from 
any  other  source.     They  have  given  of  their  time,  their  energv 
and  their  talent  unstinte.lly  and  patrioticallv  and  I  believe  you 
gentlemen  will  bear  me  out  in  the  statement  that  they  have  ren- 
dered to  us  as  well  as  to  the  government  a  great  service. 

More  attention  is  being  paid  to  these  matters  each  year 
which  brings  us  to  the  conclusion  that  each  year  our  work  will 
become  more  essential  and  important.  I  am  at  this  point  con- 
strained to  quote  from  an  address  by  one  of  the  above  named 
gentlemen,  in  which  he  took  occasion  to  say  that  "the  Fire 
Marshals  of  North  America  are  engaged  in  a  work  of  conserva- 
tion that  IS  beginning  to  attract  the  attention  of  students  of  eco- 
nomics the  world  over.  These  departments,  originally  conceived 
to  cope  with  the  one  question  of  incendiarism,  have  grown  and 
expanded  until  their  work  is  as  broad,  and  deep,  and  important 
as  any  conservation  work  anywhere.  1  believe  that  the  ultimate 
work  of  the  Fire  Marshals  of  this  country  is  to  save  the  people 
from  their  own  folly."  ' 

By  nature  the  American  people  are  a  careless  and  extrav- 
agant people,  prone  to  permit  waste  to  the  extent  that  it  elim- 
niates  frugality.  A  very  large  class  of  people  who  constitute 
he  important  part  of  our  population  is  not  a  class  of  conserva- 
tt  u^r  7^''>/-«^^-^  '^-'  it  is  so  much  easier  to  preserve 
that  vNh.ch  vve  have  than  ,t  is  to  create  that  which  we  have  not. 
As  I  said  before  we  are  living  in  perhaps  the  most  extravagant 
period  of  the  world's  history,  which  if  true,  behooves  us  tolwl 
all  the  more  activity  to  the  preservation  of  the  country's  re- 
sources because  out  in  the  not  far  distant  future  there  will  come 
a  time  when  there  must  be  a  reckoning  and  things  must  seTk 

that  the  F.re  Marshals  of  this  country  will  play  no  small  part 

140 


il 


in  helping  to  bring  order  out  of  chaos  and  will  do  their  utmost 
to  preserve  the  physical  resources  of  the  several  states  which 
it  is  their  honor  to  serve. 

Referring  to  the  second  part  of  my  subject  in  which  I  am 
to  speak  of  our  faults.  I  hesitate  to  criticize,  feeling  as  I  do  that 
we  have  all  honestly  striven  to  do  our  duty  as  we  have  seen  it. 
Disclaiming  any  pretentions  to  perfection  I  am  charitable  enough 
to  believe  that  every  one  has  given  the  fullest  measure  of  ser- 
vice possible  under' the  provisions  of  the  statute  defining  his 
powers.  However,  there  is  much  yet  to  be  desired  in  the  way 
of  amendments,  strengthening  le-islation,  and  co-operation 
from  the  people  of  our  states,  that  we  may  receive  the  support 
we  should  have. 

We  should  be  awake,  alert  and  always  ready  to  let  real 
service  rise  above  personal  preference.  We  have  doubtless  all 
made  some  mistakes  because  we  are  but  human,  but  I  am  in- 
clined to  believe  that  our  sins  have  been  sins  of  omission  rather 
than  sins  of  commission. 

Permit  me  at  this  time  to  quote  from  the  closing  para- 
graph of  Fire  Marshal  Ole  O.  Roe's  farewell  letter  at  his  vol- 
untary retirement  f  om  office  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  "In  my 
conception  public  ice  is  neither  a  'plum'  nor  a  'snap,'  but  a 
call  to  high  patriotic  service.  To  such  service  my  best  endeav- 
ors have  been  dedicated.  I  shall  lay  aside  my  official  duties  at 
the  end  of  my  term  with  confidence  in  the  future  efficiency  of  the 
office  and  the  kindliest  personal  feeling  toward  all." 

I  trust  that  when  we  arrive  at  the  conclusion  of  our  offi- 
cial career  each  and  every  one  of  us  may  be  able  to  say  as  much 
as  Brother  Roe  has  said  and  that  we  may  have  met  the  problems 
of  our  several  commonwealths  and  solved  them  with  that  same 
spirit  of  equity  and  justice  toward  all  that  has  characterized  the 
work  of  our  good  friend  who  has  voluntarily  laid  aside  the  cares 
of  office  and  sought,  we  trust,  more  pleasant  and  profitable  pur- 
suits. 

Let  mc  urge  each  and  everyone  to  go  forward  and  do  his 
very  best  to  the  end  that  his  state  may  receive  a  hish-minded. 
clean,  patriotic  and  worthy  official  service. 

President  Fleming:    I  am  sure  we  all  appreciate  this  splcn- 

diH  presentation  of  the  Fire  Marshal  work.     1  just  want  to  say 

■    word  to  our  friend  from  Massachu>^ett<.  who  is  present.     I 

..   ght  say  the  first  Fire  Marshal's  office  in  the  United  States 

was  in  Massachusetts,  but  the  first  1-irc  Marshal  law  was  passed 

141 


o    this  subject  Mr.  ,.  fiar    Foster  A  "'^  '"'^  '°^  ^^^  ^-^"^sic 
°f  the  state  of  Oklahoma.  '  ^'"^'""^  ^tate  Fire  Marsh; 

Mr.  Foster:     Mr   P.^f '''''°''- 

;:ce  in  Mr.  Husse,;,,!     rt:::^,:?''"^"^     ^^  ^^  -"  - 

f-e  Marshals  of  the  se vera    S  a t,  '^'u""''^^^  *°  -t'cf-se  th, 

^'8:ned  to  me  by  Mr.  Camber  of    M  '"  ''^''^  ^"P''^  ^^as  as 

t'ottom  of  the  letter  he  .l7^''cl!uT  ""  ^  ^'^''^^-'-ipt  at  th. 

a"d  every  state  H-    u  U    the  "''  '"•^  "^^^^hals  of  ea  h 

-;'  -'-n  I  ,o,  here  a        o  '  ,    hrrr  "V"'"°''''  -^'  O-^"" 

only  f,ve  minutes  for  discus"  ion    I  T^  "^  ^''^  ^''^'^  allowing 

•"e  to  give  Ohio  and  riIi„orH-l   ""  ''''  '^  "^^  ™P°«sible  for 

have^^s^t  drntre"?:"'"^'  ''"^°"^^'">'  ''^  '^^^  Hussey      I 
^he  laws  of  the  se:era  :;;?fCd"r'-'-'  '   ^'^  ^^^^^ol 
"".form  :  the  revenue  deri  Jj  frtm  tt        """^^  ^"''  '^^^^'^  be 
be  attamed  the  same-I  am    omhT.  Ho  '"""'  ■^°"''"--  ^-"'^^  to 
'"sted  them  also.    There  shoMM?    ^      """  '°  °"'-  faults.  I  have 
^^  with  the  Xatio„:riS t^p^  :- '^i^-'-.on  -^  ci^op^! 
wnters-  Laboratories,  the  Vati  nni  r-      .'^"■'^'""'■^'  ^^e  Under- 
an     closer  relationship  to  tl  e  Sred"     "'""'""  -^^^--^^  • 
Xat.onal   Firemen-s  Associa   on    the    ,:;""''""^  ^"'^'^  ^  ^^e 
o/  F>re  Engineers,  the   Fire  T'   "'^ '"'^^"at.onal   Association 
^■■7  Chiefs  of  ead,   citv      ,d  r'     T'^  °'  ^"  ''^  «'^t«.    he 
and  the  like.     The   Stat'e  Fir'    Vf     \  ^^   ^"'''^'•'ff^'  associa  ion! 
-d  State  Boards  of  Fduc    ."n     1  ^ulf '  ''^'^  "-^^   Board! 
and  f.re  prevention   education   should   be""'"''"     ""'''  ^^'"-^ 
F<re  escapes  should  be  placed  on  .1      ,       ^''''"  '"  '''"  '^'^hools. 
appropriations  by  the  state  are  no    ^  T"^  °'  '^"""■"^-     1''- 
o^  F.re  Marshals  and  their  co- workers  "      '""'  '"''  ^''^  '^^'-'"-^ 
Po-  e  kind  of  men  needed  i::;t:iZ":T''-^  '"  ^"^- 
Keferrmjr  to   Mr    /-^     i      .  *vork. 

!'-  of  insu^nce  ^^^.p^!::^;"^;"''';  ^'-'^  to  th-  co-opera- 
-ad  office.  I  think  th  o^/jT  ^  'T^'  ^^'^"''^  "P  ^o  the 

^or  tomorrow's  discussion,     w'h/r^^'  fn  the  question  bo.x 
"f  ni.Ils  and  elevators  before  '.u  ""'  ''"'"  ^''^  ''nspection 

paiunent.      1    cannot  an- 
1« 


swer  that  question.  Mr.  Connolly  and  myself  have  paid  strict 
attention  to  duty  since  February  ,i,  li)l(i.  but  you  will  find  that 
Oklahoma  will  co-operate  with  the  several  associations  and  es- 
pecially the  Fire  Marshals  Association. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  very  glad  indeed  to  have  Ok- 
lahoma represented  in  this  fine  fashion.  We  are  only  sorry  Mr. 
Connolly  was  not  also  able  to  be  present — he  expected  to  be 
here.  Now  we  will  pass  from  this  subject  to  the  next,  which  is 
assigned  to  Colonel  James  R.  Young.  "Fire  Prevention  as  a  Life 
Saver." 

Mr.  Camber:  1  am  in  receipt  of  the  letter,  which  I  have 
read  before,  from  Colonel  Young,  stating  that  it  is  impossible 
for  him  to  be  present  and  in  which  he  also  suggested  that  the 
topic  should  be  presented  to  the  convention.  I  am  going  to  ask 
Mr.  Mclvor  of  Kansas  to  present  the  paper. 

FIRE  PREVENTION  AS  A  LIFE  SAVER. 

Mr.  Mclvor:  Mr.  Chairman,  gentlemen  of  the  convention: 
I  am  rather  young,  but  it  is  a  great  thing  to  be  called  on  to  sub- 
stitute for  the  gentleman  mentioned,  and  such  a  pioneer  as  Mr. 
Young  of  North  Carolina.  It  is  a  long  jump  from  North  Caro- 
lina to  Kansas  for  a  sul)stitute.    I  will  now  read  the  paper: 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  greet  you  once  more  in  our  an- 
nual meeting.  We  have  come  to  discuss  oar  work  and  its  prob- 
lems, compare  experiences,  and  consult  for  more  effective  plans 
and  better  results  in  the  future.  I  congratulate  you,  one  and  all, 
upon  the  energy  and  effectiveness  of  your  work  during  the  past 
year.  Without  this  annual  meeting  and  review  of  the  work  we 
cannot  fill  the  position  that  each  of  us  should,  a  leader  in  the 
tire  prevention  work  in  our  several  states  and  provinces. 

Naturally,  in  speaking  of  fire  prevention,  we  turn  to  prop- 
erty loss  and  well  we  may,  for  so  immense  is  the  annual  loss 
that  it  is  nothing  less  than  an  unpardonable  fault,  if  not  a  crime. 
This  is  easily  seen  when  we  consider  the  amount  of  loss  and 
the  fact  that  at  least  two-thirds  of  it  is  easily  preventable  by  the 
exercise  of  ordinary  care,  to  say  nothing  of  what  can  be  saved  in 
having  proper  apparatus,  trained  firemen  and  a  sufficient  water 
supply.  Why  longer  erect  unsafe  buildings  arid  allow  such  con- 
ditions on  our  premises  as  are  calculated  to  start  and  feed  fires? 

In  the  United  States  and  Can.ida  we  have  an  average  fire 
loss  of  $2.')0,()()(».0iM)  each  year.  These  are  big  figures  and  unfor- 
tunately are  hard  to  be  taken  in — practically  $500  a  minute.  Do 
you  realize  what  this  loss  is  and  means?    It  e.xceeds  the  annual 

143 


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li 


,1 
f 


production  of  gold,  silver,  copper  and  petroleum.     Even  while 
an,  talk.ng  fortunes  are  burned  up.     Factories    stores    Uiea 
Hew  ft  tT'''  '-'T  ''^'''  '"'  ^wenin,s'ar::^namrs: 

rstnolf     7r      ■'",^°'''''*"''  ''^'-  ^-  $1,000,000  of  grain    while 

s;  l:  wis.:^:^;:;:;:;  -  ;i-;7-  ^;:  -p-e.  hi.se.f,  ca:, 

helps  no  one.     ^v£ther  a'T's  T  the  oltr^^eZ   r^p^e' 
renting  the  savings  of  a  lifetime,  or  paid  for  b;  insur  nee   i'reo 
resents  so  much  wealth  and  is  gone  forever,    if  replaced  i    must" 
l>e  done  w.th  material,  toil,  labor  and  e.xpense  that  miehT  be 
n.ore  profitably  used  in  building  up  rather  than  iXlTduR 

For  years,  with  increased  vigor  and  impetus,  a  great  fight 
has  been  waged  agamst  this  loss.    An  attempt  is  being  made  to 
educate  the  people  to  this  end,  for  it  is  largely  due  tolgnora',  e 
and  carelessness^   The  facts  and  conditions  are  laid  bafe  bef  "r^ 
them.    1  hey  read  and  hear,  but  somehow  do  not  take  them  in- 
do  not  reahze  what  they  mean.     They  are  published  in  books 
and   leaflets.     Fosters  m   striking  and  even   horrible  form   are 
used.     1  he  press,  our  mighty  educator  and  reformer,  gives  its 
CO  umns  to  the  work.     The  people  stop,  express  their  surprise 
and  wonder,  and  then  pass  on  with  little  further  thought  of  this 
great  subject  and  scourge,  and  less  action  in  behalf  of  fire  waste 
prevent,on^    This  is  indeed  a  great  subject  by  no  means  devel- 
oped, much  less  threadbare.    As  an  educational  «„e-as  a  live 
econom.c  question-as  a  call  for  service  to  all  it  has  no  superior. 
It  affects  more  people  than  war.  pestilence  or  famine-and  hurts 
more    am.I.es  and  individuals  than  all  the  business  failures  that 
reach  their  millions  in  properly  loss. 

"AT  i"  ^^  l^^^^   '''^  ^^^''  ''''°P^*=^  ^^  o""-  motto   and   slogan 

Ins^  a'nce' C  '■"'''  '^^^  '°''  ^'^^  '''''  ^''"^P^^^-"     ^^»>'>"   ^e 

vo  V  H  ..    ^7'"'-^-^'«"^''--   '•««   ex-officio   Fire    Marshal,    has   de- 

18  9    rb^.r  7'T'V'  ^'^  ^'"'  ^'^^  •'^^'^^^'^^'  '^-  --ted  in 
1899.  (b)  the  state  building  code  enacted  in  1905    and  (c)  the 

statute  governing  fire  escapes  and  proper  exits  enacted  in  r-09 

These  statutes  are  of  vital  interest  and  most  important  for  our 

144 


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people ;  the  call  for  earnest,  active  work  on  our  part  and  our 
best  efforts  to  elicit  aid  from  every  available  source.  There  is, 
there  can  he,  no  higher  duty  imposed  by  the  laws  of  our  states 
and  provinces  than  the  prevention  of  fire  waste  and  its  attendant 
loss  of  life  and  property. 

But,  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  I  need  not,  in  fact  did 
not  propose,  to  talk  to  you  about  the  immense  loss  of  property 
i)y  fire  and  the  duty  of  saving  it.  It  would  not  be  necessary 
in  this  presence  and  among  this  band  of  workers.  I  am  expected 
to  talk  to  you  about  a  different  phase  of  the  work  and  when  you 
view  it  from  this  angle  I  am  sure  you  will  feel  more  deeply  and 
keenly  the  urgent  call  for  the  prevention  of  fires. 

I  allude  to  the  loss  of  life  from  fire.  Many  engaged  in  this 
work,  seeing  the  great  loss  of  property  and  how  it  should  ap- 
peal to  '!-,  have  feared  that  the  force  of  their  attack  would  be 
lessened  by  dwelling  upon  the  loss  of  life — in  fact,  there  was 
a  prevalent  idea  that  comparatively  few  lives  were  lost  in  this 
way.  There  was  never  a  greater  mistake.  Several  years  ago 
I  began  to  clip  from  newspapers  accounts  of  loss  of  life  by  fires 
and  was  surprised  to  find  that  I  clipped  annually  accounts  of 
the  deaths  of  from  l.iO  to  175  each  year  in  my  state.  Those  to 
whom  I  told  this. would  hardly  believe  it  and  insisted  that  there 
must  he  some  mistake,  though  I  had  the  clippings. 

After  our  Health  department  established  a  Bureau  of  Vital 
Statistics,  I  went  to  it  for  my  figures  and  received  the  report 
for  l!)lf.  as  ■,i27  deaths,  for  1917  as  31(i  deaths  and  for  1918  as 
3nn  deaths  from  fire  in  North  Carolina,  while  for  the  first  three 
months  of  1919  the  average  was  two  a  day. 

In  my  canipaiL,Mi  to  elicit  the  active  aid  of  every  man,  wo- 
man and  child  in  this  work,  I  found  this  data  a  wonderful  wea- 
pon to  use  in  the  warfare  against  fire  waste.  Property  could 
be  replaced — new  factories,  stores  and  dwellings  could  be  erect- 
ed, but  who  could  restore  a  single  life  lost  by  fire. 

It  appears  that  three-fourths  of  these  deaths  from  fires  are 
women  and  children,  and  three-fourths  of  these  are  helpless  lit- 
tle children.  With  this  story  I  caught  the  interest  of  the  chil- 
dren and  the  mother'.s  instinct  in  our  women  was  touched  and 
they  res{)onded.  To  such  an  appeal  woman  has  never  failed 
to  respond.  This  perha])s  accounts  for  the  unusual  aid  and 
co-operation  that  I  have  received  from  the  women  and  children 
in  my  state.  We  have  over  1.100  North  Carolina  Safety  Leagues 
organized  among  the  school  children  of  the  state,  representing 
;{5,000  children,  and  the  active  aid  of  the  State  Federation  of 


145 


ti|j 


W  omen's  Clubs.  In  fact  when  this  work  of  our  State  Federation 
was  presented  to  the  National  Federation  at  Asheville  last  sum- 
mer It  was  unanimously  voted  to  have  the  work  of  fire  and  ac- 
cident prevention  taken  up  by  the  federation  in  every  state  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  civics  committees  or  special  ones  Our 
North  Carolina  Safety  Leagues  are  federated  with  our  State 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs  and  there  is  full  co-operation. 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  do  not  feel  that  I  am  speak- 
mg  of  something  far  away  from  you— something  peculiar  to  my 
state.    What  is  true  of  North  Carolina  is  no  doubt  true  of  your 
state  or  province  and  you  will  only  have  to  look  into  and  check 
It  up  to  get  the  proof.    Using  North  Carolina's  per  cent  of  fires 
as  a  fair  basis,  you  will  readily  find  that  there  are  annually  over 
23.000  deaths  from  fires  in  the  United  States  and  Canada     Shall 
we.  as  an   enlightened   and  Christian    people,    stand   for   this? 
Certainly  not.     The  World  War  is  over.     Death  and  carnage 
no  longer  hold  sway  in  France  and  Belgium.     The  god  of  war 
no  longer  destroys  the  flower  of  our  young  manhood      Why 
should  the  fire  demon  be  allowed  to  destroy  our  women  and 
children?    Our  brave  soldiers  laid  down  their  lives  to  save  civ- 
ilization and  Christianity  on  the  earth,  to  make  the  world  safe 
for  democracy,  and  from  our  crushed  hearts  we  say  it  is  well 
but  there  is  no  excuse  for  our  people,  through  ignorance  and 
carelessness,  to  sacrifice  the  lives  of  our  women  and  helpless 
little  children  in  the  smoke  and  flames  of  the  fire  fiend. 

My  people  and  your  people  are  ignorant  of  what  will  cause 
a  fire.  They  are  careless  about  doing  things  or  allowing  condi- 
tions that  will  start  or  feed  fires.  Laws  to  prevent  such  condi- 
tions are  not  heeded  or  else  are  regarded  as  innovations  Cus- 
toms are  continued  with  a  feeling  that  they  will  not  bring  the 
same  results  they  have  continually  produced  with  others  and 
m  other  places.  How  often  do  we  find  this  feeling  in  our  busi- 
ness places  and  homes? 

Many  of  our  city  and  town  officials  and  Legislators  are 
hard  to  reach  and  to  be  made  to  see  the  necessity  of  precautions 
and  care.  In  presenting  our  building  code  to  a  committee  of 
our  Legislature  for  enactment,  we  were  told  by  a  Senator  that  if 
this  law  was  pas.sed  he  could  not  kindle  fires  with  kerosene  in 
his  home.  I  said,  "Senator,  1  hope  you  do  not  now."  "Yes  I  do  " 
he  replied.  "Then,"  said  I,  "what  about  your  servants?"'  And 
he  replied  that  he  did  not  allow  them  to.  Of  course  we  all  know 
that  servants  will  imitate  us  in  doing  whatever  we  do  about  the 
home. 


146 


1  ^  ir' 


In  working  for  our  safety  match  bill,  I  was  told  by  a  mem- 
ber of  our  Legislature  that  he  did  not  favor  safety  matches  as 
he  could  not  strike  them  on  the  seat  of  his  trousers.  Yet  in  one 
year  this  law  and  its  enforcement  saved  our  people  in  North 
Carolina  over  $40,000. 

The  reports  of  fires  by  causes  in  all  of  our  states  show  the 
saving  from  loss  by  fires  and  the  benefit  of  proper  laws  and  or- 
dinances, such  as  those  for  the  incombustible  roof,  proper  elec- 
trical installation,  regulation  of  the  sale  of  fireworks,  as  well 
.IS  for  the  handlinj;  and  storage  of  explosives  or  combustibles — 
and  for  proper  building  and  inspection. 

My  appeal  to  you  as  Fire  Marshals  is  to  save  life  and  to  re- 
alize what  a  wonderful  opportunity  there  is  offered  you  for  ser- 
vice in  this  (liicction.  It  is  more  than  preventing  fires,  than  les- 
.-cning  the  actual  destruction  by  fire  of  property,  it  means  the 
saving  of  lives  when  fires  do  come.  Of  course  the  nearer  you 
build  fireproof,  the  nearer  you  build  for  safety  to  life ;  but  even 
in  the  fireproof  or  fire  retardant  building,  you  may  have  the 
smoke  and  other  panics  causing  the  loss  of  life. 

In  many  cases  the  builders  feel  they  cannot  afford  to  build 
a  fire  resisting,  much  less  a  fireproof  building.  This  may  or  may 
not  be  true,  though  there  never  was  a  time  within  my  knowledge 
when  the  cost  of  fast  burning  and  fireproof  buildings  were  so 
close  together.  But  for  one  thing  I  stand  and  plead — that  all 
buildings  from  frame  to  fireproof  shall  be  so  constructed,  equip- 
ped and  kept,  that  in  case  of  fire  the  occupants  may  be  saved 
and  their  lives  not  lost.  This  can  be  done,  but  it  calls  for  more 
care  and  attention  than  is  usually  given  it  now.  It  is  bad 
enough  to  find  that  lives  are  lost  through  an  oversight  in  keep- 
ing your  building  in  proper  condition  or  other  thoughtlessness, 
but  construction  is  more  deliberate.  You  pHn  your  buildings 
with  the  use  of  the  best  architects.  You  do  it  deliberately,  and 
to  plan  without  care  for  safety  to  life  is  criminal  in  the  extreme. 
There  is  God's  word  for  this,  for  in  Deut.  22-8.  we  read :  "When 
thou  buildest  a  new  home,  then  thou  shalt  make  a  battlement  for 
thy  roof,  that  thou  bring  not  blood  upon  thy  home,  if  any  man 
fall  from  thence." 

We  exercise  too  little  care  in  building  our  homes  to  make 
them  less  liable  to  burn  and  even  less  to  make  them  safe  for  our- 
selves and  family  in  case  of  fire.  How  many  of  us  give  atten- 
tion to  this  or  have  our  architects  do  so? 

Theatres  are  too  often  built  with  little  thought  of  safety 

147 


ri 


to  patrons  in  case  of  firo     h 

•;  '•e  crowded  „e,o„;r:;,t  7  '^T''  '""  '""  "^  '<' 

"  '■="''-"'»  to  e,ca„e  i„  ca^e  o,      ^  ""  ""  '"""  »" 

School   building,    „(  ,.„„„  ■ 

S"s  as  other  l,„i|di„„,       '""•«■■  "c  .subject   ,„  ,|,e   (,„   ,, 

'rttriti  r  *^'  ™*  p"r'?,',e"-,™7  •"  "'-■■^' 
p"^  f «"wh:„'rrr„'et' ■."'  -'""» '- '- «..  i., 

"••'    fail  amid  the  s„„ke  of  a  ra^  l,"""'  ""'  "">  »"  'i^c  dr 
■"  ''"ve  fire  drills,  ,,„,  „°    '''"•'">  "P^dins  fir.,     „  -f™ 

«  -  nrore  needed  preca^L:.  "  i™  J^.™  '»  "-  ..e.leor!, 

,:,""'  :  """  '"  ■'■'■  -"^e-hli'l  :4'^  --"'  '"'>' 
-Mter  a  careful  stnrKr   r 

fan  be  hnndled  onlv  hv  h      ,'""  •^^^'^^'"1  that  the  smal.. 

z;- '  -  i'"i<^st:^;:^:f^„r---^-a,a:::t:n:;: 

ien    a  "^^  so  equipped  have  been  founTrf    '^^^^'^^"    "-"■ 

^'•ectmg:  no  other  class  of  school  ,,.       '">'  ''^'^  '^'^  are  now 

or  o      children  to  anvthi   ^e t    J""':^.^-     ^^^  P-^er  sa  et^ 

arKf   the  other  desirable  conditions  ""  ^"^-  «^^  ^^^  safety 

--ace  to  life  found  in  the  av     :;^,  ".^J  '-'^-'■^  and  not  Z 

Are  we  underx-,1..-       ,  school  building. 

cne  of  „„r  „,„,  ^„.  g    i.es.     Automatic  sprinkler, 

,4g  *^        '-trtaiiily   no 


i  are  allowed 
^•es  at  stake. 

sanatoriums, 
w  often  are 
e  and  hand- 
school  and 
that  arc  a 
rom  all  l,ut 

-  fire  dan- 
'ife  lies  in 
ercome  as 
vill  get  in 
reads  rap- 
'al  dangler 
sualties  in 
)t  touched 

r  the  pu- 
''••e  drills 
It  is  well 
I'g'lect  .,t 
^  carries 

^e  panio 
he  elim- 
floors. 
conven- 
ire  now 
■  -safety 
t  safety 
lot  the 

ffrown 
should 
iikler;, 
?rrcat 
richly 
hools, 
ly    no 


building  containing  valuable  property  or  which  shelters  a  mass 
.^f  bunuu,  hves  should  he  without  the  protection  afforded  by 
an  automatic  sprinkler  system.  "uorueu  dj 

The  reconstruction  period  is  upon  us  with  its  many  and 

^ri'et  r7f  ^"  '"■  ^'"^^'^  '"^  ^^^  ^'^"'  -  --^-  ^^l^e  what- 
ever tune  and  effort  is  necessary  to  stop  this  loss  of  life     Let  us 

as  leaders  return  to  our  several  fields  of  duty  determined   to 

arouse  our  people  an.l  enlist  every  man.  woman  and  child  oi 

whatever  class,  ability  or  vocation  in  the  prevention  of  th    fire 

waste  and  Us  attendant  loss  of  life  and  property. 

So  say  we  all ! 

President  Fleming:  I  am  very  glad  indeed  to  have  this 
splendid  paper  from  Colonel  Young.  Now  we  are  goTng  to 
proceed  as  rap.dly  as  possible,  as  our  time  is  limited.    The^dis" 

r;:  w^^v^;- ^r " '--'  '^  ^^-  ^°^"  ^-  "--•  '^-^-- 

DISCUSSION. 

tion**'p"r""'     Mr    President  and  gentlemen  of  the  Associa- 
-on  .     Reahz.ng  the  t.me  is  very  short.  I  am  not  going  to  de- 
lay you  by  further  discussion  of  the  very  excellent  paper     How- 
ever,  I  do  w.sh  to  call  your  attention  to  one  important  phase  of 
h.s  subject  that  was  not  touched  on.     I  refer  to  fire  preven- 

forml'  '''"■  ^'.'^  '■'^"'■'"'^^  particularly  to  our  schools, 

reformatones,  pen.tent.anes.  asylums,  and  so  forth.  Xow.  gen- 
tlemen. ,f  any  of  you  believe  you  are  in  danger  in  this  building 

^  I  her  !  '°1!  '''  ''  "^''■'-"  '°  ^°  °"^  *"  -^^-"^  other  hotel 
and  there  to  seek  accommodation.  That  privilege,  however  is 
not  extended  to  the  inmates  of  our  asylums  and  prisons ;  they  a  e 

Ica'l'w'Tv'   ^.'^^/\  '^''^'-  =>-   ^t^te   institutions,  and   II 
least  m  West  Virgm.a  they  are  most  excellently  cared  for  and 
every  possible  precaution  is  taken  against  the  possibility  of  fire 
Now  with  reference  to  our  schools,  we  may  possibly  en- 
deavor to  eliminate  the  fire  hazard  and  we  may  provide  ade- 

wit^f  ;r  ""'7-  '"^  ^^  "^^^^  •'"P"^*-^  ^hing  in'  connectn 
with  fire  prevention  or  the  safeguarding  of  lives  is  not  only  to 

to  refer  to  fire  drills  in  our  schools.  The  very  erroneous  im- 
pression IS  sometimes  gained  by  the  teachers  in  our  schools  in 
conducting  these  fire  drills  that  the  efficiency  of  the  fire  drill" 
depends  on  the  rapidity  with  which  the  building  may  be  emptied. 

u^on  tho!  :  '  "T"  T'  '  ^''"'^'  ''  '^  '^"^  ^"*>-  'o  i-P^ess 
upon  those  who  conduct  those  fire  drills,  where  it  is  not  possible 

149 


«<■'  m  which  thev  ^1  u   '■"'''''"e-  !"«  tht  orderly  , 

sociaU^nM,';,!;:^;;:  °L7^  ^■°""^>-  ^'^^   ^'-   Marshals- 
t"e  lives  of  their  lo  "e/on    ^  IZ  ^"^f---  of  safeguard 
•see  that  their  safety  is  Zner,!      f  ""^■'"^"-  '^  is  up  .o  us 
manner.  '         '^  "^"'-^  ^^^^S^arded  in  every  possi 

our   Roo'd'!rL^d!*M"'jos'ep'S   g"r""'  1"  '^  •^°"''"-'' 
-oner  of  Vermont  and  pTe' Marsha,  o7"tH    """"*^^   ^°""" 
to  say  I  am  particularly  pleased  to  h^      v'  ''"''  '"^  ^  ^^ 
■oy  so  able  a  man  as  Bro'lher  BroVn  "^'^^"^  '"'^P'-^^-' 

Presu'l^ttr  tha 'l^.a;r:t"i"hS  ''  ^"'"^  "^^ 

^hal  under  a  Fire  Marshar'al    hat  1  b  ''"'?  °'  "^'^  ^^ 

voun^Ud  m^'h!^::  ::^zzr''T'  ^^^^  ^^  ^ '- 

what  we  can  to  preserve  "he  i  e7  f  .^  '^''  ''  ''  "P  ^°  "'  ^ 
we  can  to  prevent  fir's  i^Vrw^V'^Y^P'^  '"^  '""^  *^^ 
as  I  came  to  Toronto  to  nick  «n  .      '  "^^^  '"terested  .,  soo, 

"^o  instructions  ,Wven  to  off"L?'^"  "f  ""'  ^"  '^^•"  '^^^^e, 
be  dangerous."  Ri-^ht  here  in^h  ''^'''^'"^  conditions  said  t( 
ronto  I  find  that  a  s m       f  '  .  '""'  '^'P"'  '"  »'^^  -'ty  of  To 

the  suggestion  LthrL:  ^Hto^"' I"  l'^  ^'''''''  °"'-  -^ 
et  into  the  register  and  The  ""^'^'"k.n.ly  threw  a  cigar- 

caught  fire,  /hat  leac  'n,  ^ta^e  ;;;:  T"  "  '""  ""'^^^"'-'^ 
the  matter  of  the  r  ^ister  is  oveHonr  '"'P^'-^^'°"^  ^^ry  often 
season  when  regist  are  no  i;'  t^'ir^^-'-^"  ^^"-^  the 
ference  whether  those   registers  are  J  r'  ''^'^'  ''"'"  '^''^■ 

rect  system  of  heating,  they  are  n  toT  '  T  °'"  ^"  '"^"- 
thing.  dust,   waste  paper  an^!  ,        '  '"'"''■""  °f  '•'^cry- 

-eans  that  you  findS  h  "  /  rp7h  rT";'."''  ^''"  ^™P'^ 
^"-----fbvesfron^;-:-r^Snt^-:- 

150 


'  with  which 
rderly  man- 
ne  time  tak- 
the  past,  in 
operly  com- 
anner,  hun- 

rshals'  As- 
i^eguardingf 
ip  io  us  to 
ry  possible 


itinued  by 

Commis- 

nd  I  want 

epresented 

:ms  rather 
Fire  Mar- 
less  than 
>aper  that 
Young  of 
of  West 

y  C      nel 
'  U'        do 
?        that 
I  •.»  soon 
n  headed 
5  said  to 
y  of  To- 
ffice  and 
a  cigar- 
lerneath 
ry  often 
ring  the 
ttle  dif- 
m  indi- 
every- 
simply 
i  kinds, 
should 


be  given  to  hospitals,  theatres,  public  schools  and  in  fact  all 
public  buildings.  I  don't  know,  gentlemen,  that  1  have  anything 
more  to  add,  except,  as  I  say,  I  endorse  the  sentiments  as  ex- 
pressed by  Colonel  Young  and  our  friend,  Mr.  iloran. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  very  glad  to  welcome  Mr. 
IJrown  to  our  Association  and  to  the  active  work  that  we  have 
taken  up.  Now  we  pass  from  this  subject  and  we  have  just  time 
for  two  more  important  subjects  between  now  and  12:30.  We 
are  delighted  to  have  with  us  today  one  of  those  who  has  stoud 
behind  the  great  movement  of  conservation  and  fire  protection 
and  prevention  for  years  in  connection  with  insurance  interests, 
and  who  is  now  vitally  connected  with  the  conservation  and  fire 
l)rtvention  movement,  which  must  envelop  every  state  in  the 
Union.  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  W.  B.  Flickinger  to  discuss  the 
subject  of  "Insurance,  the  Science  of  Service." 

INSURANCE^THE  SCIENCE  OF  SERVICE. 

Mr.  Flickinger:  I  have  assumed  that  the  subject,  "Insur- 
ance— the  Science  of  Service,"  is  to  be  treated  as  it  relates  to 
the  business  of  fire  insurance. 

Marine  risks  had  been  underwritten  for  many  years  before 
indemnity  for  loss  by  fire  was  undertaken.  It  was,  as  is  often 
the  case,  a  great  calamity — the  London  fire  in  1666 — which  di- 
rected attention  to  the  need  of  fire  insurance  and  an  underwrit- 
ing plan  was  adopted.  In  it  was  contained  the  principle  of  mu- 
tuality and  co-operation.  It  was  based  on  the  Biblical  injunc- 
tion of  "Bear  ye  one  another's  burdens."  In  more  recent  times 
the  attitude  towards  insurance  is  better  expressed  in  the  words, 
"Bear  ye  the  burden." 

lor  many  years  fire  insurance  was  only  granted  on  build- 
ings; then  liability  was  assumed  on  stocks  of  merchandise  and 
Imally  on  household  effects.  The  early  contracts  or  agreements 
had  few  conditions  and  forms  were  simple  and  specific.  This 
was  before  the  advent  of  the  department  store  with  its  almost 
endless  variety  and  kinds  of  merchandise  and  multiple  occu- 
pancy building  with  its  different  hazards.  Then  there  was  no 
method  or  system  cf  measuring  the  fire  hazard,  each  under- 
writer guessing,  and  generally  high  enough,  the  rate  of  prem- 
ium charge  to  cover  the  risk  assumed.  From  this  simple  and 
unscientific  beginning  has  grown  the  present  gigantic  and  highl}' 
technical  busine?s  of  fire  insurance  as  it  is  Cu-nducted  today.  In 
the  early  years  of  the  business  no  local  agents  or  solicitors  were 

151 


^i — ■  ■:jy 


a-  -r  „un,er„  .ncome  tax  return ^S'  '"''"'^'^--'  '>"-« 

.       \\hen  the  pc.ple  i.eL'an  .,.        .• 

'->  a.d  benefit  of  're  i.  'i;  ,  ?"    r'  '"''^  "'"^""'  ^he  pre 
^^tuall,  destroye.1  a„-l  ,;,;';:  :"""  ^^•-"''  '>^-  i-Paire.fif 

."ed  ,„to  service,  and  became  tlu      ;'   "•  "•^-  '"^■^'  '''^-t   , 

1  e  busmess.     The  desirabZ    ,    ha       "  '"r^'""^^>'  to  deve 

I>y  msurance  against  loss  bvTin.  L        ^^ '"  '^'■"'^'^••^^'  P^-tec 

economical  principle.    The  I.    a    T'l       '"  '"^"•''^^•'  ^^  -  -" 

.whon,  the  property  owner  wsL^    ^^  "'^'  '^^'''*""'  '^rou 

-surance  an,|  todav  few  .^Z.u^^  '''"-^'^'1  »"  Purchase  f 

forts.    The  expansion  „f    r  d  'a    ^  '""  '  '"'  ''""'  f'^-^----  , 

"ea..ed  demands  for  serv"     ,'    '    :^"'"'"-  "^^''^  new  and  i 

fons  and  di.scoveries   re^../.   *  .     "■*'  '"•^"^^"^■^'-     ^'^w  inve 

-h.ch  were  frequentiv  ,i.;  e  u^d  rT  T"^^"^"   '^*^  "--"s 

h-e  -,;,a,..d  in  produc.i^n      C;   7  """■'""  ""'^"•-"  ' 

the  lessons  purchased  throu^rh  ,     '\  ^"'l  ^M^t-nsive  have  bee 

•-•"•' ^l;*'P;--s^sti,,,oe,;r''  """  '-    ^'^  """----^e" 

«^act.r4":nt:;;rel7.  ';f  ^^--d  the  development  of  .an 

at.ons  to  mvent  or  improve      Hea L  k   ''^'  ^"^  f"'"^^  ffen- 

^ed  effort  and  if  possible  the'estab       "^  "^^  "^'^^  "^  an  organ- 
r-^/^f  ^-re  protection  f„,  p  '  enJ  "/'T'."'  ^"  -"active  !vs- 
Lnderwriters  was  or^^ani^ed  some'th  '"""'■"  ''"-"  "^  ^ire 

,^f  ■     ^*  ^-'^  "P  the  work  when  th  r  'wa  "";'   """    ^'^^>'  >-- 
h'    '"  P^'-t-e  or  treatment  of  ha/arH      .,"""" "^'  '''^^  ""*f'»-m- 
them  or  their  elimination     Lovll      !  f'  '"  P'-^tection  against 
P'oneers   persisted,   though   X   "'  '''''''  '°  '^^  cau.se.Th  i 
those  who  did  not  «ndersfa„d  n "chT""^  ''''''''''"'   "'-^    i 
^      th.s    late   day   the   maioruvf     ^' 'P"'^^'"*^' 'heir  efforts 
ef  orts  of  the    L/nderwriUrs   to  r^d?"  ,'"'^'"^'    '"^""^    "P""       e 
-h.ch   to  the  extent  of  each    oss f        •  '"'"'  ^'^^  '''^'^~ 
purely  selfish.     We  are.  however      '7"'7'-^'^"^  ^'^^  "^tion-as 
P'e  are  awakening  to  th    facTthat'  T"'""  '''''"^>-  ^"'^  the  peo- 
'n^urance  company  does  not M.t    '^' P''*>'"e"t  of  a  loss  by  a  fire 

'"'r:  t  '^^-^  '--^'^^^^^  Z::r''-'  ^^'■-^"^^^- 

r^ --::;:  K::-t:tr  people  Of  the  real  services 

-- ^?^::^x;' • --''^'- -  p- r;s  ::^:tr - 

•  ^^«-'"^ ;;;-did  encourageme::;:"d  ^uT 


,i; 


mmmi 


IH.rt  and  is  bein^.  effectively  supplemente.l   l.v  the  members  of 
'lot  mimoral.  uncimcai  it 


This  work  is  carrierl 


""  at  a  K-reat  cost  to  the  companies  and  con- 


i.r.ve„„„„  „„,  „,,„„„„„,  ,„,p„„i;  selfish  ;ca:;,:r    "™ 

r»»sc.  „,  a„,i  are  „„,!„  ,1  •  c..n,ro  ,^  ,1,,    ""'"""""'  •"  ""  "" 

„  1 I       .       ,  ■>-'vn.i  ana  wno  tias  been  recop-niyprl  d- 

Salvage  S,p,/    ''^        """••  ^"1"™"-"<I""  »f  'he  Cincinpa.i 

_.         ..n..    n.c-.tiuu.-   that  he  has  gathered  about  him 
153 


an  army  of  f.re  prevention  enthusiasts.  Earnest,  energetic 
persistent,  he  has  won  the  support  not  only  of  the  city  c 
cials  of  Cincmnati,  but  the  good  people  of  his  city  I  feel  t 
.t  IS  unnecessary  to  quote  figures  to  show  the  result  of  his 
forts  for  you  are  familiar  with  them.  I  have  referred  to  Y 
first,  because  he  .s.  I  feel,  fully  entitled  to  any  credit  I  may  g 
Z  "f  ,f.^^°"^'>''  ^°  d'--^*^^  attention  to  the  great  benefit  of  L 
and  mtelhgent  cooperation  and  its  benefit  as  is  illustrated  in  i 
city  of  Cincmnati. 

if      -n™^'  I  ^J  ^°"'"'  ""'^^^  '^^"^^  ^^'^  favorable  record    I 
It  wi  1  not  be  due  to  a  lack  of  exceptional  effort  on  the  part 

fZilu?^'"':-  *^""'^'  "•■  '^'  ''"^  °^  co-operation  of  his  peop 
1  might  mention  some  cities,  saintly  and  otherwise,  where  t 
record  could  not  be  spoiled-they  might  accidently  become  b. 
ter.  If  these  cities  would  secure  the  services  of  a  Captain  Co 
way  and  support  him  as  Cincinnati  supports  him  the  res" 
would  no  doubt  be  the  same  as  has  been  the  casein  that  c 
No  other  class  of  men  have  had  the  opportunity  of  reali  fng  ho 

uealth  than  the  F^e  Underwriters  and  they  are  entitled  to  gre; 
credit  for  their  efforts  to  reduce  or  prevent  the  needles.  Sa 
on  our  national  resources. 

The  enormous  enlargement  of  manufacturing  plants  and  th 

aTon^s  To'the  f"^"  'h'  ^"''^'  ''"^^'''^  ''-^"'^'  ^^  elm 
cations  to  the  fire  underwriter.     His  first  care  was  to  safcL^ 

the  property  against  fire;  if  fire  did  occur  to  have  the  nb 
properly  equipped  with  fire  extinguishing  devices  and  facil itl 
so  as  to  minimize  the  loss.  tacilitie 

The  Fire  Underwriters,  recognizing  the  need  as  well  as  th, 
ut.ce  of  considering  the  various  classes  as  well  as  the    nd  vicl 

ral";  the'm      Aff  ^'^  '""'"'"  '''''^''  ^'^^^^^'  -hedit 
ranng  them.     After  many  years  of  most  careful  studv  and  an 

plication  by  some  of  the  greatest  minds  among  them    a  len 

i^op^erfhrdV^'r''"  ^^'^'"'^  -'''  ^-">''-uTat;yan 

adopted.     The  day  of  guess  work  in  fire  insurance  rate  mikin.. 
.s  past  and  unfair  discriminations  practically  eliminated  " 

W  hat  the  Fire  Underwriters  need  most  in  order  that  thev 
may  render  the  fullest  measure  of  service  to  the  people  ndu"- 
n  sh  indemnity  at  the  lowest  cost  which   will  justify  7.  em- 

a   on  from  the  property  owner  and  the  state  authorities    espe- 

a  ly  the  .supervising  officials.    That  the  interests  of  the'po  fcv 

holders  and  the  companies  are  better  served  as  a  resuU  nf'such 

154 


iiy_ 


mMmmuHimMmm 


mm 


co-operation  admits  of  no  argument.  There  should  exist  har- 
monious relations,  friendly  feelings  and  a  sympathetic  under- 
standing between  interests  which,  after  all,  are  common  and  not 
antagonistic. 

So  important  a  service  as  is  rendered  by  insurance  entitles 
it  to  protection  against  the  incendiary  and  fraudulent  claimant. 
On  the  contrary,  however,  courts  and  juries  have  so  generally 
favored  these  claimants  as  to  discourage  the  companies  from 
contesting  such  claims — contesting  them  not  only  to  save  money 
for  the  stock  holders,  but  to  make  it  unnecessary  to  load  the 
premium  charge  in  order  that  the  criminal  might  profit. 

In  states  not  having  unjust  and  unreasonable  laws  and  where 
supervising  officials  have  not  assumed  autocratic  powers,  the 
cost  of  conducting  business  is  less  and  rates  are  lower  than  in 
states  where  the  conditions  are  onerous  and  official  attitude 
antagonistic.  There  should  be  a  justifying  reason  for  every 
restrictive  law  or  ruling.  From  your  experience  with  fire  in- 
surance interests  and  their  representatives  I  am  confident  that 
you  have  found  them  willing  and  anxious  to  co-operate  with 
you  at  all  times  and  to  the  benefit  and  advantage  of  the  inter- 
ests which  you  represent. 

When  on  the  memorable  second  day  of  August  1914,  egotism 
and  ambition  opened  the  flood  gates  of  war,  resulting  in  destruc- 
tion from  which  the  world  will  not  fully  recover  for  generations, 
the  pendulum  of  co-operation  by  nations  swung  to  its  extreme 
limit,  in  order  that  force  should  not  triumph  and  that  right 
should  prevail.  It  was  a  splendid  accomplishment  and  justified 
a  great  sacrifice.  Promptly  did  the  Fire  Underwriters  offer  and 
eagerly  did  they  render  most  efficient  service  to  the  cause.  The 
cordial  acceptance  of  their  services  by  the  members  of  your  As- 
sociation, the  support  and  co-operation  extended,  proved  most 
effective  and  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  maintaining  such  a 
relationship.  The  service  rendered  by  fire  insurance  interests 
during  the  great  struggle  will  ever  remain  one  of  its  great 
achievements.  The  story  of  the  conservation  movement  would 
not  be  complete  without  the  record  of  the  notable  .vork  of  the 
Fire  Marshals  and  other  state  officials. 

Splendid  as  was  the  co-operation  of  the  nations  during  the 
war,  the  pendulum  is  now  unfortunately  swinging  in  the  oppo- 
site direction,  among  the  individuals.  This  attitude  among  the 
people  is  most  deplorable  and  tends  to  impair  if  not  destroy 
much  of  the  advantage  gained  at  the  expense  of  the  world's 
greatest  sacrifice.    There  is  a  patriotism  of  war  and  there  should 

ISS 


he  a  patriotism  of  peace.     Xothing  could  be  finer  .h 
response  to  the  patriotism  of  war     InTJ  h     .  "  "^^^ 

nierged  for  those  of  thelt Ln  InH  ..  '"'"""''  "^''^  ' 

cise.v  the    same  respo  sr^ue   .    rth^  ^  '^  r'^'^"     ^ 
prevail  in  the  patriotism  of  peace      T,  •  '''""^  ^'"^ 

in  times  of  war  or  times  of  n^  P-'tnot.sm.  whel 

citizens  dav  bv  dav  Trclect        "T''  "^  ''""^^  ""^  ^"^^ 
Javv     This'-iDnlil  ;        ''"P""*'"^  authority  and  of  obeying 

The  present  :S;;:':oni:;L-r^L:^4^;;-,-^' 
and   involve  manv    ^^rJ, ,.-         ,,      "'^''"'"'"e-  "f  not  alarm 

Win  those  stird\oi  i  r„/::'trm:":  f^*^^  "7  r-'--' 

perhaps  destruction,  will  thev  see  t.  t  "^  ^'^••"Ption 

tional  interest,  will  the  •  1  stTn T  "'^■-  '"  ^''^  ''"^'^^  "^  > 

'lividuals  or  f,  How  the  ad   i.        ,TT  °'  "'"  '^'y  ^'^^  -^ 
wise  men-des  rov  n  onen        "J     '?'^"'-^'^'P  "^  ""^^'^  =»"d  . 
equalizing  the  t^Ilt'of  X  ""  V'  ''''^^  '^'^^  '''^^^  "^^y  ^ 

This  is  as\vet  ^:Z:^:^jz\:^t ::''  '"^"t^  °^^- 

common  sense  and  patriotism  ofThe  A  '^'■'''  ^""'^  *"  ^' 

for  an  adjustment  which  wlThlvl  "'"  "'^P'"  ""^  '°* 

of  individuals  as  weH  as  pr^p^r^       '"'"  "^"'  '°'-  *'^^  "^'^ 

co-op^r^r^jrr  r  r  :f  '"^r--,^^"^  ^-  ^'^^  ^-^ 

surance  interest  can     e  rel  el  '       "■"^'^  '"^  ^^^^  ^'^^  " 

its  agencies  and "t    '^eso    c L"' wl,i,rT^" ''  7''  ^"  '^-^  ^"■"-^ 
hazards  have  been  eiven  nri„        ,  P^^""^'  ^""^itions  an 

refer  to  the  n.ost  dfff      It"^;  oTlirr"-  '  '"'"  ''^  "^"^^  ^ 
hazard-a    hazard     with    ,f,™',  "^  '"  ^'"^^  '"''"••^""--the  mora 

constantly.     Too  i..^  p  ople    e  liz^  thaf ""  ■  ^"    ^^^""« 
ulent  claim  paid  todav  beroml!  r      '''''^'  ""J"^^  ^-^  f^aud 

est  premium%ayrr^roror;e:  ^u"  h' is'theT  7  T^^  ^°" 
tancy  of  fire  underwriters  in  ZZ.l^        .  ^^*^^-     ^^^  '^^'^i" 

prosecuting  incendiar S.  ha  no  d  l!"^  fraudulent  claims  and 
criminals.  ,t  shouir lowetl  be  H  ^"•^^"'"^^^^  ^^is  class  of 
their  efforts  a  waste  oi'ea^H  '"  "^'"^  '^''  '^'y  f°""^l 

-hat  appeared  to  hem  r  the  ir"v  M  "' ""^''>' ^"'^"''"^^  *" 
of  laws  creating  the  oTfice  of  K       V       '''     "^''^  '^^  ^^^P^ion 

thatbetterresu.tstu  tobtardfnTthl^'^  '""'^  ^''  '^'" 
become  too  dangerous  to  be  undertaken  '"^■^"'''^"■^'"  ^"'^ 

of  n.Ln::.^.;7;,e'?i:rxrarTa?d'  "  '''  '''^  ^^^  ^'^  -P-- 

to  the  fire  insurance  compInsTr^'T"'-^  '^'""'^  ""^  ''^^'^^'^ 
'OSS   or  destruction   aZZ.olir'''''''" '' ^'^^^^^y  ^^orn 

the  apprehension   and  punishment  of 
156 


lan  was  the 
ts  were  suh- 
k'liole.    Pre- 
flng  should 
"n,  whether 
Jur  duty  as 
)beying  the 
)uld  be  but 
vn  making^. 
t  alarming, 
iderwriter. 
iruption  or 
ight  of  na- 

act  as  in- 
fe  and  un- 
t  they  are 
ig  others? 
lith  in  the 

and  look 
the  rights 

he  closest 
e  fire  in- 
ts  forces, 
ions  and 
proper  to 
he  moral 
dealing 
>r  fraud- 
ery  hon- 
he  hesi- 
ims  and 
class  of 
y  found 
litted  to 
doption 
as  born 
1  would 

'xpense 
harged 
y  from 


those  responsible  for  it  is  clearly  a  government  duty  and  func- 
non,  and  the  expense  of  the  departments  should  be  taken  from 
the  general  state  taxes.  No  other  interest  so  far  as  I  know  is 
ilirectly  charged  with  the  expense  of  protection  against  crime. 
In  some  instances  the  results  were  disappointing,  the  office 
!)cing  regarded  as  a  political  plum  and  accepted  as  a  reward  for 
V.irty  service.  In  some  states  the  department  from  its  estab- 
lishment became  an  active  and  helpful  agency  against  the  in- 
.■vndiary.  In  recent  years  the  purely  political  Fire  Marshal  has 
disappeared  and  men  appointed  on  merit  and  on  account  of  their 
litness  for  the  duties.  [■  mm  a  political  reward  the  office  became 
t .  he  regarded  as  a  serious  obligation  calling  for  the  performance 
of  an  important  duty  to  the  people.  There  has  been  a  striking 
improvement  in  the  work  of  the  departments  and  the  efficient 
work  performed  is  now  showing  most  beneficial  results.  Un- 
fortunately some  of  the  states  have  not  clothed  their  Fire  Mar- 
shal with  sufficient  power  and  authority  and  in  some  instances 
insufficient  support  to  produce  the  results  desired  by  you  and 
so  urgently  needed  as  a  matter  of  public  interest. 

The  belief  is  still  too  common  that  the  incendiarv  has  simply 
defrauded  an  inrurance  company  instead  of  committing  a  most 
serious  crime  against  the  commonwealth.  So  long  as  this  opin- 
i.;n  exists  you  will  continue  to  have  <lifficulty  in  securing  con- 
victions. It  is  indeed  remarkable,  in  view  of  public  opinion  and 
attitude,  that  you  have  succeeded  in  so  many  cases.  I  wish  to 
assure  the  members  of  your  Association  of  the  appreciation  bv 
the  fire  underwriters  of  the  splendid  and  efficient  services  ren- 
dered by  you  to  the  cause  of  fire  prevention  and  fire  protection 
and  to  express  the  hope  that  your  several  constituencies  mav 
nore  fully  realize  the  great  importance  of  your  work  and  ex- 
tiiid  to  you  all  necessary  authority  and  support. 

In  conclusion  '  wish  to  say  that  t.)day  the  fire  un.lerwriter 
docs  not  regard  t..e  collection  of  premiums  and  the  pavment  of 
losses  as  his  sole  service  to  be  rendered  to  the  nation  and  the 
iH.hcy  holders.  To  render  expert  service  in  fire  prevention  and 
fire  protection  as  a  personal  as  well  as  a  public  dutv  he  regards 
and  has  assumed  as  one  of  his  functions.  For  this  work  he  is 
equipped  by  the  forces  at  his  command  and  his  knowledge  pained 
by  experience  in  the  business.  This  is  what  I  would  call  'in- 
surance the  Science  of  Service." 

President  Fleming:  We  are  verv  gla<I  indeed  to  have  this 
excellent    paper    by    Mr.    Flickin-er,    together    with    his    views, 

157 


which  are  very  far-reaching  alonff  the  line  nf  ^^ 

any  sfte  of  the  c^nion  than  has  Mr.  '       E    M  ^cuT" 
Manager  of  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underw  U  "^    I  T 
very  great  compliment  to  this  Association  tha    L^Vs  her. 
son  and  that  a  large  number  of  his  staf^are  here    o  .       T  ^" 
every  possible  wav.  as  they  have  alJlv  \,  '"^  "' 

this  work    so  T  .U  ^^  ''""^  •"  connection  wil 

fire  p  event  on    M?  Te    V  T,""'  '°  -^°"  *''^  ^^^^^  ^^  ' 
ierf   ''W        ^  •  Mallaheu,  who  will  discu^,,  the  sul 

S  i"?;^;^:^?^*-^'  ^-^^  ^^-'-  the  state  K^^ 

HOW  CAN  THE  NATIONAL  BOARD  ASSIST  THE  STAT] 
FIRE  MARSHALS  IN  THEIR  WORK? 

Mr.  Mallalieu:    Mr.  President  and  gentlemen:    This  splen 

ioved  for,  n  Jh  ?  °"^  °^  ^"^  Underwriters,  has  en 
t/iT  k  °^  -■^''"■'  ^  wonderful  spirit  of  co-operation 

he  F  re  M"ar7af-T  '''■''''  ^°  ^"^"^  the' annua,  mee'Tngro" 
hel/     .f  r  Association,  no  matter  where  they  have  beer 

held,  with  the  exception  of  last  year,  since  1910  and  I Tl  ^ 
no  agency  that  has  been  more  hdpful  in  furthering  our  wo^i:  t 

ire  prevention  than  that  of  the  Slate  Fire  Marshals     V\^T 

jects  w  th  them  and  told  them  of  what  we  have  been  dointr     rL 

o;':;-  rwthTi^'  ^'^^^^  ^^  ^-  ^°*"^  ce  r„,t  :^„^t! 

operation  with  all  agencies,  having  in  mind  the  desire Vo  les 
.^en  this  great  fire  waste  of  which  we  have  heard  so  much  Z 


1 


and  I  hone,  in  the  discussion,  there  will  be  not  only  the  Secretary, 
Mr.  Gamber,  and  Fire  Marshal  Hussey,  but  I  would  like  to  have 
each  and  every  one  of  you,  if  you  care  to,  get  up  and  ask  any 
(jucstion,  or  make  any  comments  you  feel  you  would  like  to  make 
with  reference  to  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters. 
There  are  three  of  us  here,  and  we  will  try  to  meet  you  all. 

The  title  assigned  to  me  is  a  welcome  one,  for  it  is  prac- 
tical and  not  academic.  We  are  all  such  thorough  converts  to 
the  cau.se  of  fire  prevention  that  it  would  be  a  rather  amusing 
wa'-tc  of  time  for  mc  to  endeavor  to  stir  you  into  enthusiasm. 
It  is  well  to  get  into  the  subject  at  once  and,  as  you  have  already 
shown  m  actual  practice  many  ways  in  which  the  State  Fire 
Marshals  can  assist  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters, 
I  wish  to  -eciprocate  in  the  name  of  the  organization  which  I 
liave  the  honor  to  represent. 

The  National  Board,  as  you  know,  is  a  service  organization. 
'Ihrough  a  process  of  evolution  its  duties  have  come  to  He  very 
clo'^ely  with  the  ]>ul)lic  and  that  fact  does  not  worry  us  in  the 
kast,  since  we  feel  .such  duties  to  be  completely  harmonious  with 
its  duties  to  our  own  members.  In  co-operating  with  you  we 
can  serve  the  public,  for  you,  in  a  sense,  are  yourselves  this 
public  in  a  concentrated  form.  You  were  put  into  your  posi- 
tions, directly  or  indirectlj',  by  the  people  who  cast  the  votes  in 
your  respective  states  and  your  duty  is  a  protective  one  in  re- 
ijard  to  the  vast  aggregate  of  their  interests.  Each  one  of  you 
has  come  into  office  out  of  a  separate  and  distinct  previous  ex- 
perience. Some  of  you  have  been  Fire  Marshals  for  compara- 
tively short  periods;  others  have  made  notable  recordr  through 
,1  considerable  term  of  years.  Some  of  you,  perhaps,  are  a  trifle 
new  to  this  particular  line  of  thought,  although  as  j^oo'l  citizens 
you  have  had  the  general  interest  which  all  goo '  -itizens  must 
feel  in  the  conservation  of  life  and  property  from  the  terrible 
and  unnecessary  destructiveness  of  fire.  In  some  cases  you 
have  succeeded  to  offices  already  rich  in  tradition  and  contain- 
ing highly  developed  executive  machinery  and  data ;  in  others, 
the  opportunity  has  doubtless  been  somewhat  less. 

Whatever  the  previous  story  may  have  been,  here  you  are 
in  convention  assembled,  as  public  servants  of  a  very  much  more 
important  nature  than  yet  is  generally  recognized,  and  your  be- 
ing here  is  an  indication  of  your  sincere  desire  to  broaden  your 
outlook,  intensify  your  experience  and  swap  ideas  and  mfithods. 
Thus  each  one  of  you  will  become  a  sort  of  mixture  of  the  whole, 
although  with  his  individual  flavor  predominating,  and  you  will 

159 


go  back  to  your  duties  renewed  in  faith,  inspired  in  spirit  and  ir 
proved  ,n  technique  for  the  exacting  duties  of  your  positions 

ago  t7ne7'tht  ""  •^'''"""  "k"'  °'  ^''^  Underwriters  Ion 
ago  learned  that  you  can  contribute  to  our  common  efforts  fc 
pubhc  protection  certain  things  that  we  ourselves  do  not  po 
^es..  You  are  officials  and  we  are  not;  you  are  able  to  tak 
close-ups"  of  the  local  conditions,  whereas  we  natural^v  ar 
more  general  in  our  views.  ' 

In  the  first  place,  as  you  already  know,  we  are  working  har 

l^^LwTT^  T"  '''''-''''  '■"   °"^  Actuarial   Bureau      w 

bur    u   but  it    :    I  r  ^'"'  ^""'"^  '"^^  ^"^^  -^  ^'-ted  thi 
bureau,  but  its  work  has  grown  into  proportions  to  which  I  cai 

a  most  apply  the  rather  overworked  term  of  "vast  "^    Ve  hav 

placed  It  under  the  direction  of  a  man  of  cast-iron  nerve  and  un 

.mpeachahle  habits,  because  nothing  else  could  stand  the  "Lin 

.s  something  more  than  the  -statistical  center  of  fire  destru" 

r:t,:-'  "%T"  ^■'""'  '•  '"^  ''^  ^'-^^  ^"  ^'^---^-n  and  rec'd 
cfn     aX  "■"'""  --elessness.  American  bad  habits.  Amer 

•can    faulty    construction.    American    reckless    high    speed    and 
Amencan  lack  of  conservational  viewpoint.    We  sweep'  :gethe 
great  masses  of  figures  and  try  to  get  them   into  the  prope 
columns  for  study.     One  might  think  this  to  be  a  dull  and  rou 

it;';";"- '"'  ''T'  •^^"  -^■"" '''''  ^'^-^  ^'^--  ^-^>y  -"'e 

m  tL^^ptZe^"'  ''''-'''''  ''  '^'-'-'^y  '-'  -  ^-P  ^^en. 
I  am  reminded  of  the  story  told  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  the 

o!c^vh'['  "  •\^':"  ''■"  "'^"  ''''  government  was  almost 
overwhelmed  with  the  volume  of  unfamiliar  detail,  and  when 
complications  were  developi.ng  by  the  thousands  in  everv  de- 
partment. Some  self-constituted  committee  of  busvbodies' call- 
ed upon  the  great  President  to  offer  an  indignant  protest  at  what 
they  deemed  outrageous  lack  of  attention  to  some  minor  detail. 

wil/rVH,  ,',''''''""'■  ""''  '^'''  '^°'*^'^  d«^-"  "Pon  them 

vvith  a  kindly  smile  from  his  six  feet  four  and  simplv  remarked. 

t^ent  emen.  did  you  ever  try  to  shovel  fleas?"     The  commit- 
tee, I  believe,  saw  the  point  without  further  argument 

?Jlf\7"  '^°"'  "^'"'"  ^°'  "'^  ^^>"  ^  "^^•^  '■"  the  Actuarial 

seen  anH  h"  '"  ^T'"^  ^''"''''  ''  '°"''  "^  >'°"  ^'^^^dv  have 
seen  and  the  rest  of  you  must  drop  in  and  see  for  yourselves 
the  next  time  you  are  in  New  York. 

For  example,  we  have  undertaken  to  maintain  an  alphabet- 
ical mdex  of  all  loss  claims.    This  list  has  been  accumulating  for 

160 


almost  five  years:  it  contains  several  million  names  of  those 
who  have  had  fires  on  which  losses  were  paid  by  members  of 
the  Bureau.  The  great  percentage  of  these  losses  have,  of 
course,  been  regular  and  legitimate,  but  here  and  there  occur 
cases  involving  features  of  special  interest  in  judging  of  the  de- 
sirability of  the  risk. 

Since  early  in  the  present  year  an  experienced  supervisor, 
assisted  by  a  force  of  clerks,  has  been  reviewing  this  list  in  order 
to  discover  such  cases  and  bulletin  them  to  the  companies.  In- 
■  urance  companies  have  met  with  repeated  criticisms  from  you, 
jjcntlemen,  as  well  as  from  others,  as  to  the  ease  with  which  a 
man  who  has  a  fire  record  can  obtain  insurance.  This  fact  has 
largely  been  due  to  the  lack  of  just  such  facilities  as  we  are  now 
(Ifvuloping.  Therefore,  the  existence  of  the  Loss  Information 
Service  to  the  companies  should,  in  itself,  be  of  value  to  the 
work  of  the  Fire  Marshal. 

We  desire  to  make  the  co-operation  more  accurate  and  spe- 
cific. We  do  not  purpose  to  burden  your  files  with  reports  of 
all  fires  involving  such  special  features,  but  we  will  not  fail  to 
answer  your  official  inquiries  concerning  individuals  where  the 
information  is  in  our  possession,  and  it  is  probable  that,  sooner 
or  later,  most  of  those  who  are  seeking  to  capitalize  fire  and 
smoke  will  have  found  a  place  in  our  records.  On  the  other 
hand,  many  investigations  made  by  Fire  Marshals  bring  out 
information  of  the  greatest  value  to  all  concerned.  Therefore, 
you  can  hardly  serve  yourselves  better  than  to  make  our  Bureau 
the  immediate  repository  for  all  such  data. 

Some  time  ago,  one  of  the  members  in  your  organization 
whose  state  law  gives  him  power  to  issue  raze  orders,  decided 
in  conference  with  the  National  Board  that  conditions  would  be 
improved  if  the  attention  of  fire  insurance  companies  were  call- 
ed to  buildings  which  he  condemned  or  to  w'hich  he  ordered  re- 
pairs. This  Marshal  now  furnishes  us  with  copies  of  all  such 
orders  and  these  are  bulletined  as  soon  as  received  to  our  mem- 
bers. We  shall  be  glad  to  pursue  the  same  policy  in  all  other 
possible  cases. 

One  of  the  branches  of  our  work  with  which  you  are  al- 
ready most  familiar  is  that  of  the  Committee  on  Incendiarism  and 
-Xrsen.  When  Mr.  Morgaridge,  who  is  in  charge  of  this  work, 
was  transferred  from  your  own  circle  to  that  of  the  National 
Hoard,  we  knew  that  we  Were  gainers,  but  you  doubtless  felt 
that  you  were  losers  in  a  corresponding  degree.  Now  we  wish 
you  to  feel  that  you  are  gainers  as  well,  since  Mr.  Morgaridge 

161 


Ui;i 


has  an  opportunity  to  do  for  you  all    or  rather  to  a     t 

cenaiary  is  the  hyena  of  the  whole  criminal  7on  :>nH 

y.  rne     open  season     for  incendiaries  is  all  the  tim< 

having  Fire  Marshal  departments,  but  we  are  alw"     T/ 
I.-nes'^'^A  mi""'T'"'  ""'^^  ^"cendiaries  do  not  recognize  state 

he  ^ctiv^e  r:i:i::z^''i,:'^y '" '^''°'"*^  -^^  --  >'- 

Arson  is  collecrrvaluable  dLr""'""  °"  ^"""^iarism  and 
arson  in  the  entire  countrv  Thfs  "nf '""'•  '"'  '^°"^''^'-"«  ^o, 
disposal  ^-    ^'"'  '"^"'■'"ation  is  always  at  your 

co.opera,f„„  migh,  be  in^cr^servv,  ".',";„',  "'  "" 
so  busy  „i,h  daily  ,a,k,  ,„„  <IomIZ:1^,XLI  "^  I" 
Phase  „,  e^operaHon  ,„s  .h„„,h,  .ha^  rdeserv^  ''^:  i;^ 

162 


named  committee  has  a  large  and,  we  believe,  highly  efficient 
>taff  of  engineers  trained  in  all  matters  relating  to  the  physi- 
cal factors  of  fire  hazard  and  their  correction,  particularly  in 
the  lifiht  of  municipal  conditions.  Kveryonc  of  you,  gentlemen, 
has  many  yet  unk^ndled  conflagrations  waiting  expectantly  in 
his  own  state.  This  is  a  sobering  thought  but  is  too  obvious 
to  need  proof  before  a  body  of  men  familiar  with  fire,  its  habits 
.ind  its  causes.  Our  engineers,  operating  in  field  parties,  sooner 
or  later  reach  almost  every  city  of  importance.  Sometimes,  per- 
haps, they  could  do  it  sooner  if  the  urgency  of  the  need  were 
made  apparent,  and  wherever  they  go  it  should  be  mutually  help- 
ful and  would,  I  know,  be  most  acceptable  to  them  if  the  Fire 
.Marshal  were  to  indicate  special  lines  of  interest  and  special 
ideas  for  making  permanently  effective  their  recommendations 
for  public  safety. 

.\s  I  .said  before,  you  gentlemen  are  officials  and  we  are 
not ;  when  you  speak  the  people  of  your  state  speak  through  you. 
Tn  the  meantime,  our  technical  experts — I  believe  that  we  can 
fairly  call  them  such — and  those  of  our  Underwriters'  Labora- 
tories are  constantly  engaged  in  all  sorts  of  interesting  tests,  ex- 
periments and  observations.  I  can  see  no  limits  within  reason, 
and  "you  all  are  reasonable  men,"  as  Mark  Anthony  said  upon 
another  occasion,  for  including  your  occasional  problems  within 
the  .scope  of  their  investigations.  Let's  try  it  out  anyway  and 
si-c  how  far  we  can  get. 

There  is  also  the  important  subject  of  ordinances  relating 
to  various  fire  hazards,  such  as  those  upon  film  storage,  upon 
acetylene,  and  upon  fuel  oil — to  mention  only  three  of  the  more 
recent  ones.  We  are  glad  to  send  you  these  as  rapidly  as  they 
are  prepared,  but  we  lack  your  official  ability  to  secure  their 
adoption  and  to  assure  their  enforcement  after  adoption. 

The  Hork  of  the  Committee  on  Construction  of  Buildings 
•should  be  extremely  close  to  your  needs  and  desires.  We  are 
trying  to  make  it  a  sott  of  exchange  for  the  best  knowledge  and 
the  best  ideas  in  improving  building  construition,  but  this  is 
merely  the  beginning,  for  our  committee  is  also  striving  to  have 
these  ideas  made  active  in  various  municipal  building  v\hU<*. 
The  engineering  part  of  this  task  is  straightway  work,  but  to 
secure  the  adoption  of  codes  of  safety  is  easier  at  some  times 
than  at  others.  If  any  of  you  gentlemen  were  politicians,  i  be- 
lieve I  should  be  tempted  to  say  that  politics  occasionally  in- 
fluences the  adoption,  the  modification  or  the  defeat  of  proper 

163 


building  codes,  but  I  naturally  hesitate  to  use  such  an  u 
nuhar  word  ,n  this  presence.  Still,  the  ways  in  which  we 
co-operate  m  raising  the  standard  of  effectiveiy-operatinjr  bi 
niR  codes  stick  out  like  the  spines  of  a  floating  mine. 

I-inally,  I  know  that  our  Committee  on  Public  Relation 
an.x.ous  to  place  its  facilities  much  more  fully  at  your  disp 
.lun  It  has  yet  been  called  u,K.n  to  do.     Afte'r  allfthat  lov' 

11  c  chief  problem  for  us  all  in  this  field  of  fire  prevention  , 
whatever  you  started  out  to  be.  most  of  vou  have  now  be'c 

>r^K  a  gix^d  deal  of  excellent  literature:  some  of  it  is  ^  v 
adapted  to  popular  understan.ling  that  if  you  ever  could  h 

talkinj^  to  the     common  people."     Of  course,  in   vour  case 

great  deal  of  material  to  keep  up  the  stream  of  fresh  pamphh 
arguments  and  illustrations  and  we  are  developing  facilifie 
ja  her  and  organise  such  material.     If  only  yoi  will  look  up 
our  files  as  your  mdivulnal  repositories   and    will    not    hesi, 
o  pour  into  them  such  data  as  you  would  like  to  have  preser 

a^ionThaT"  ^"^"^^'■^^"-"•  '^  -*"  ^o  under  the  best  class 
cation  tha  we  can  give  it  and  will  there  meet  similar  data  fr< 
all  the  rest  of  you  and  from  many  outside  sources,  thus  beco 
-ng  responsive  to  your  requests.  I  think  that  most  of  you 
alize  this  ,n  theory,  but  now  we  shall  be  glad  to  have  you  ma 
use  of  It  m  practice.  Heretofore  you  have  proceeded  raiher  up 
the  maxim  that  "it  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive"  a 
have  supplied  us  with  more  than  you  have  asked  from  us  but  , 
are  constantly  desirous  to  do  our  part. 

work^'estrnTed 7  ''  '  """''  ""''"  "'  ''''  departments  of  o 
work  best  fitted  to  co-operate  with  the  members  of  this  conve 
tion.  but  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  general  spirit  oco-^ 
eration  permeates  our  entire  organization-its  officials,  ts  s^ 
and  Its  membership  alike. 

The  meeting  in  our  Executive  committee  room  last  Tan 
uary.  when  a  committee  composed  of  some  of  your  ablest  men 

spiration  of  which  we  have  felt  the  value  ever  since,  for  it  en 
phasized  the  mutuality  of  our  ideals  and  interests.  You  in  yoi 
official  capacity,  and  we.  with  our  technical  facilities,  have  def 
n.tely  joined  hands  for  the  reduction  of  fire  waste  and  the  pre 
ervation  of  hfe  and  property.  ' 

164 


W'p  are  all  of  us  desirous  of  increasing  the  effectiveness  of 
tfforts,  which  at  their  best,  are  still  inadequate  to  the  enormous 
task.  To  this  end,  the  avoidance  of  duplication  of  effort  is  im- 
portant; there  is  so  much  that  each  of  us  can  do  without  repeat- 
ing the  activities  of  others.  Consequently,  in  accumulating  rec- 
ord«,  in  promoting  better  construction  and  protection,  in  secur- 
ing the  adoption  of  helpful  ordinances,  in  investigating  suspi- 
cious fires,  in  forwarding  popular  education  upon  fire  preven- 
tion, in  discovering  and  correcting  all  forms  of  special  hazards 
and  in  many  other  ways,  the  opportunities  for  joint  and  helpful 
action  appear  to  be  almost  unlimited. 

It  is  with  pleasure  that  I  learn  that  Secretary  Gamber  and 
Mr.  Hussey  have  been  assigned  to  lead  the  discussion  of  these 
remarks,  for  both  of  them  were  active  participants  in  our  con- 
firence  in  New  ,  >rk.  Let  Us  by  all  means  be  practical.  Having 
ixprcssed  the  sincere  desire  to  work  together,  let  us  make  sure 
that  this  meeting  marks  a  definite  advance  in  the  formulation  of 
methods  to  that  end.  Gentlemen,  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Un 
derwriters  desires  nothing  more  than  that  you  should  give  ex- 
pression to  such  thoughts  as  may  occur  to  you  under  the  title 
which  has  been  given  to  me. 

I  have  already  spoken  for  more  than  my  allotted  time,  but 
cannot  close  without  a  word  of  reference  to  the  relations  of  our 
joint  field  to  the  special  requirements  of  the  public  situation. 
Have  any  of  us  ever  seen  a  time  in  which  the  subjects  of  public 
Kinservation.  cartful  habits  and  constructive  lines  of  thought 
were  more  urgently  needed  than  at  the  present?  Fire  preven- 
n  is  a  big  subject,  not  merely  because  fire  destru-tion  is  a 
big  subject,  but  because  fire  prevention  lies  at  the  very  root 
of  good  citizenship  in  every  line.  Can  anyone  imagine  a  sincere 
fire  preventionist  who  is  also  a  bolshevist  in  good  standing? 
Can  anyone  imagine  a  desire  to  preserve  the  good  while  pre- 
paring for  the  better  as  existing  in  the  desultory  and  turbulent 
brain  of  violence?  We  preach  patriotism  and  good  citizenship, 
as  well  we  should,  but  patriotic  qualities  must  be  shown  in  spe- 
cific application  in  order  to  appeal  to  the  popular  mind.  Fire 
prevention  is  so  definite,  so  practical  and  so  trt-iiendously  sig- 
nificant and  constructive  in  its  application — in  what  may  be  call- 
ed its  character-building  effect — that  there  are  few  means  which 
may  be  compared  with  it  for  steadying  the  public  nerves  and 
raising  the  tone  of  the  national  consciousness.  The  war  showed 
lines  of  public  service  which  we  had  dimly  suspected  before,  but 
peace,  if  "peace"  indeed  be  the  proper  term  to  apply  to  these 

165 


Ilwn 


rouolous  times,  is  making  demands  and  offering  opportunities 

or  patriotic  sc-rvice  hardly  k-ss  in  their  urgency  an.I  hardiv 
less  m  their  scope  and  value.  Therefore,  the  educational  value's 
of  Fire  Prev-ention   Day  must  be  emphasized  as  never  before 

mere  must  be  an  absolutely  unprecedented  wave  of  state  com- 
munity and  school  observance,  accompanied  by  proclamation 
press  d.scusMon  an.l  individual  programs,  which  will  spread 
over  the  entire  nation  and  emphasize  the  largest  patriotic  as- 
pects  o    Fire  Prevention  Day.     Under  the  critical  conditions  of 

his  fall  of  1  <)!!..  shall  we  not  adopt  for  it  the  title  of  Patriotic 
I'.rc  I  revention  Day  and  then  make  it  the  first  objective  in  our 
renewed  pledge  of  co-operation  ? 

fi..^t\u"^'^'-  ?''•  ^'"*'''^"»-  ^'ft^r  this  excellent  presenta- 
tion of  the  subject.  I  want  to  move  that  the  Fire  Marshals'  As- 
sociation of  North  America  make  the  verv  best  use  of  all  the 
information,  records,  reports,  actuarial  bureau,  and  other  lines 
of  information  that  are  made  ,M>ssible  for  us  in  connection  with 
the  activities  of  the  National  Hoard.  Only  those  who  were  down 
on  the  committee  and  who  went  through  the  offices  k«rvw  of 
he  activities  of  that  great  body,  know  the  extent  of  the  wonder- 
ful information  they  get  and  realize  just  how  very  much  thev 
can  give  you  on  a  subject,  if  you  will  ju«  take  time  to  request 
what  you  have  particularly  in  mind,  and  I  want  to  make  a  mo- 
tion that  we  most  heartily  and  continuously  avail  ourselves  of 
the  opportunity  of  this  service. 

Mr.  Van  Camp:    I  second  that. 

President  Fleming:     You  have  heard  the  m.>tion,     Mefore 
putting  It  I  want  to  state  that  once  again  we  have  had  an  op- 
portunity of  listening  to  Mr.  Mallalieu.     Mr.  Mallalieu  has  been 
the  most  potent  force  in  fire  prevention  on  the  entire  Ameri- 
can continent.     There  never  is  a  question  which   I  cannot  de- 
cide .,ut  in  the  western  country  but  which  I  can  refer  to  Mr 
Mallalieu.  and  his  advice  is  always  right.     I  w^nt  to  .say  to  you 
that  m  Ohio  we  appreciate  the  service  that  we  have  received 
from  the  National  Hoard  of  Fire  Lnderwriters.  a  se-vice  with- 
out  cost.     I   could   not    put  this   motion    without    making  this 
statement.     I  am  sure  I  am  .speaking  for  all  the  Fire  Marshals 
when  I  .say  that  wonls  cannot  be  foun<l  that  will  measure  the 
service  which  we  have  received   from  the  National   Board  un- 
der Its  capable  administration  by  Mr.  Mallalieu.     (Motion  ear- 
ned unanimously.) 

President  Fleming:     VVe  are  going  to  pass  over  all  discus- 
sion on  account  of  the  dinner  engagement.     We  have  an  espe- 

166 


■fmMimiXim/ 


miMm 


I  lally  wonderful  projrram  for  thi;.  aftcrnof,..,  and  1  want  to  rc- 
fpr  to  the  greatest  expert  that  we  have  on  mill  and  elevator  in- 
spection, Mr.  Fitzgerald,  who  is  on  the  projrram  first  in  the 
afternoon.  Mr.  George  W.  Booth,  Chief  :  ,  •  r  of  the  Na- 
tional IJoard  of  Fire  L'nderwriters.  will  op.-  .,  .  ussion  which 
has  been  requested  from  five  different  qua  -  ,  we  arc  for- 
tunate in  having  secured  the  most  modern  engi..- .  •  to  take  care 
of  this  topic  for  >ou,  so  that  is  one  you  must  not  fail  to  hear. 

You  will  see  by  the  jHogram  for  this  afternoon  alr,o  we  have 
<-ne  or  two  .  .ther  verv  in.portant  papers,  an.i  we  will  need  to 
get  right  down  to  bu.-mcss  immediately  after  the  luncheon  en- 
gagement.    We  will  1  uw  .stand  adjourned  until  that  time 


167 


'iumMwmfswfi 


♦'*:■ 


if  -• 


11  M 


%\  •■ 


THIRD  DAY'S  PROGRAM 


Thursday,  August  28,  1919. 
Afternoon  Session. 

President  Fleming:  Gentlemen,  I  want  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  introducing  to  you  two  of  my  personal  friends— two  of  those 
who  have  done  things  in  Cleveland.  Ohio,  and  made  it  possible  to 
save  millions  from  fire  loss.  They  have  iieen  of  most  valuable 
assistance.  They  are  both  live  wires,  both  up  to  date.  Mr. 
T.  Connell,  Chief  of  the  Fire  Prevention  Bureau  of  the  city  of 
Cleveland,  and  Mr.  P.  T.  Ferrie,  Chief  Fire  Marshal  of  the  city 
of  Cleveland.  Mr.  Connell  is  constantly  active  in  fire  preven- 
tion work.  I  want  you  to  meet  them  personally  afterwards  and 
I  shall  be  only  too  glad  if  they  will  join  us  in  all  discussions. 

Xow  I  want  you  people  to  co-operate  with  me  during  the 
afternoon  program.  We  will  have  the  papers  and  pass  the  dis- 
cussion with  the  exception  of  the  paper  that  was  read  just  be- 
fore luncheon — it  would  be  unfair  to  pass  that.  The  first  one 
to  discuss  Mr.  Mallalieu's  papr-  ■-  Mr.  John  0.  Camber,  State 
Fire  Marshal  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Camber:  Gentlemen,  T  was  not  present  during  the  time 
that  Mr.  Mallalieu  delivered  his  message  here.  Unfortunately 
we  had  to  take  one  of  our  boys  to  the  hospital,  but  I  have  read 
Mr.  Mallalieu's  speech  and  the  only  thing  I  wi?h  to  say  is  that 
the  National  TJoard  can  help  the  Fire  Marshal  and  the  Fire  Mar- 
shal can  certainly  help  the  National  Board,  and  all  we  want  is 
good  clean-cut  co-operation  in  the  full  sense  of  the  meaning  of 
that  word. 

President  Fleming:  I  am  requested  to  ask  that  those  who 
are  on  the  resolutions  committee  meet  in  Room  .'i53  right  now. 

It  is  a  very  great  pleasure  for  me  to  present  to  you  today  a 
subject  of  very  great  importance,  which  will  be  dealt  with  by 
one  who  has  taken  first  place  in  this  work.  I  speak  of  James  J. 
Fitzgerald,  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Grain  Dealers'  National 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  Indianapolis,  lie  will  discuss 
the  subject  of  "Proper  Inspection  uf  a  Flour  .Mill  and  Grain 
Elevator." 

:68 


PROPER  INSPECTION  OF  A  FLOUR  MILL  AND  GRAIN 

ELEVATOR. 

Mr.  Fitzgerald:  Mr.  President  and  gentlemen:  Back  in 
IHTH  an  address  was  delivered  before  the  Fire  Underwriters' 
Association  of  the  Northwest  on  the  subject  of  country  eleva- 
tors. When  this  subject  was  assij^ned  to  me  by  Mr.  Gamber,  I 
at  first  thought  that  I  would  bring  the  old  .\orthwestern  ad- 
dress and  read  it  to  you,  without  any  reference  to  its  origin, 
because  I  could  have  read  it  today  without  changing  a  word  in  it. 
The  country  elevator  is  as  live  a  topic  now  as  it  was  in  1878. 
"Where  are  we  at?  What  are  we  going  to  do  about  it?"  were  the 
questions  asked  by  the  gentleman  who  delivered  that  address. 
We  are  asking  those  .<;anie  questions  today. 

The  country  elevator  has  always  been  looked  upon  as  an 
isolated  building  out  on  some  lonesome  sidetrack,  difficult  to 
reach  by  insurance  inspectors  and  therefore  neglected.  The 
grain  business  so  far  as  we  gave  any  thought  to  it  was  centered 
in  the  grain  exchanges,  where  a  million  dollars  was  won  or  lost 
in  the  course  of  a  day.  But  when  the  war  broke  upon  us  we  re- 
alized, many  of  us  for  the  first  time,  that  the  little  lonesome 
building  out  on  the  siding  was  a  very  important  cog  in  the  ma- 
chinery of  the  nation. 

Now  I  am  not  going  to  attempt  to  discuss  the  problem  of 
the  country  elevator  in  detail  with  you,  because  I  canno*  do  it 
in  fifteen  minutes,  the  time  at  my  disposal,  but  there  arc  one  or 
two  points  I  would  like  to  leave  with  you  for  your  considera- 
tion. There  are.  roughly  speaking,  about  20,000  country  ele- 
vators in  the  I'nited  States.  Of  these  seme  200  to  2.-)0  are  de- 
stroyed by  fire  annually  and  another  .SCO  damaged.  The  aver- 
age amount  of  grain  in  the  houses  that  are  destroyed  will  run 
around  10.000  bushels.  It  is  these  elevators  that  arc  destroyed 
that  interest  us. 

The  sixteen  year  record  of  one  company  making  a  spe- 
cialty of  insuring  country  elevators  shows  that  out  of  81.3  fires, 
totalling  a  million  and  a  half  dollars,  locomotive  sparks  w^re 
charged  with  lor,.  or  thirteen  per  cent  of  the  whole  number; 
lightning.  21(;,  or  twenty-seven  per  cent:  unknown  causes,  9J. 
or  twelve  per  cent.  Here  we  account  for  fifty  per  cent  of  the 
fires  in  coaiutry  elevators.  We  arc  apt  to  look  up-.,,  the  grain 
business  as  a  speculative  business  and  hence  when  a  fire  i- 
reported  in  a  mill  or  an  elevator,  and  the  causes  assigned  as 
"unknown,"  we  raise  our  eyebrows  and  wonder  if  Ceorge  ha-^ 

169 


been  speculating.  Now,  of  course,  suspicious  fires  occur  in 
the  grain  b9.>*itM-ss,  just  as  they  do  in  every  other  business,  but 
their  numhvT  i.-  small  indeed  in  my  opinion.  The  grain  busi- 
ness is  a  highly  organized  business  and  is  conducted  with  as 
high  a  sense  of  business  honor  as  will  be  found  in  any  other 
business  in  thi<  <ountr\  So  far  as  my  experience  goes,  and 
it  extends  over  rather  a  lengthy  period,  the  number  of  crooked 
elevator  fires  are  small  compared  with  the  total  number. 

I  was  in  a  floor  mill  the  other  day,  a  mill  operated  by  a 
very  reputable  .'oncern.  It  is  an  old  frame  mill  and  now  used 
to  handle  cuar.^e  franis.  since  the  owners  have  erected  a  new 
fire  resistive  mill  It  has  many  of  the  defects  of  an  old  mill, 
but  withall  is  a  very  faK  ri-«k.  While  1  was  in  the  mill  a  fire 
broke  out  in  one  of  the  feed  legs,  but  was  soon  extinguishcil. 
This  leg  was  one  of  four  or  five  stands  operated  on  the  same 
shaft  and  was  running  light  on  the  day  of  the  fire.  In  some 
way  the  cup  belt  was  stopped  and  the  rcs'iltant  friction  started 
the  fire.  This  fire  without  question  had  been  smouldering  for 
some  time.  Kad  ihe  fire  smouldered  into  the  night  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  plant  would  have  beeti  destroyed  from  an  "uii 
known"  cause.  As  most  of  these  "unknown"  fires  in  mills  and 
elevators  are  night  fires,  it  is  very  evident  to  me  that  most  of 
them  could  be  traced  to  the  leg. 

We  are  always  on  the  lookout  for  concealed  hazards,  vet 
we  seem  to  have  <n'erlooked  the  wockI  encased  belts  and  pul- 
leys that  are  such  active  hazards  in  our  mills  and  elevator  risks. 
It  is  my  opinion  that  at  no  distant  date  the  pneumatic  system  for 
handling  grain  will  be  adapted  to  the  mill  and  elevator,  but  un- 
til that  time  arrives  we  should  see  to  it  that  legs  are  well  con- 
structed, equipped  with  non-chokable  devices  where  [wssible. 
and  maintained  in  g(K)d  running  order  all  the  time.  Only  in 
this  way  can  we  cut  down  the  fires  therefrom,  and  in  cuttin;.; 
them  down  1  believe  we  will  reduce  the  number  of  "unknown" 
fires  in  mills  and  elevators. 

The  shingle  rooted  elevator  is  a  shining  mark  for  both 
lightning  and  locomotive  sparks,  as  the  records  show.  When 
\ou  stop  to  think  of  it.  what  folly  it  is  to  talk  fire  prevention  and 
yet  place  a  sliingle  njofed  structure  in  the  jiathwav  of  spark 
throwing  engines.  Of  course  the  ,^)lution  «.f  ilie  sjjark  hazard 
is  a  non  combustible  covering  for  all  buildings  on  or  near  a 
railroad  right  of  way.  and  if  a  metal  covering  is  used  for  eleva- 
tors, the  lightning  hazard  is  iiandh-d  at  the  same  time.  'I'lu- 
iron    should    cover    tite    building    lompletely    and    be    proi)erIv 

170 


grounded  at  the  corners.  This  makes  an  ideal  lightning  rod 
system.  I  do  not  know  of  a  single  case  where  a  building  pro- 
perly ironed  has  ever  been  damaged  by  lightning. 

The  railroads  of  the  country  have  given  verv  little  atten- 
tion to  the  subject  of  fire  prevention  so  far  as  it  affects  property 
on  their  rights  of  way.  Most  of  these  l^uildings  are  on  rail- 
road ground  and  through  its  leases  the  company  protects  itself 
against  such  loss  as  it  might  have  to  bear  through  the  careless- 
ness of  its  employes  or  defective  equipment.  The  railroad  com- 
pany passes  the  buck  to  the  lessee,  who  in  turn  passes  it  to  the 
msurance  company,  and  the  insurance  company  passes  it  back 
m  the  rate.  Of  course,  it  is  a  nice  game,  but  it  doesn't  solve  the 
problem  of  preventing  elevator  fires,  in  my  opinion  the  rail- 
road company  should  be  made  responsible  for  all  losses  that  can 
be  charged  to  its  own  carelessness  and  then  it  would  have  some 
intere.^t  in  seeing  that  buildings  erected  along  its  right  of  wa\ 
are   properly   safeguarded  against  fire. 

l!ut  after  all.  the  big  question  in  fire  prevention  is  to  get 
after  the  man  on  the  job  and  make  him  understand  that  he  has 
•some  responsibility.  To  a  great  extent  he  thinks  that  his  in- 
terest ends  when  he  has  paid  his  insurance  premium.  .\ow  we 
must  work  to  correct  this  attitude.  He  is  on  the  job  ;?<i.5  days 
a  year  and  he  knows  better  than  any  one  else  where  the  weak 
spots  in  his  plant  are.  He  knows  what  bearings  are  likely  to 
heat;  he  knows  the  careless  tricks  that  are  pulled  off  when  there 
is  no  one  looking.  If  we  can  make  him  understand  that  the 
preventi<.n  of  fire  is  really  his  problem,  we  will  go  a  long  way 
toward  reducing  the  pr«'sent  di.sgraceful  loss  ratio. 

President  Fleming:  \\c  have  been  very  much  pleased  with 
the  pres(  rif.itjnn  of  the  Mibject  of  < mintry  elevati>rs  and  mills. 
The  next  subject  will  be  ■Tlie  Fire  Hazard  of  Xitro-Cellulose 
Moving  Picture  Films  and  /voroid  FVnducts:  What  Should  be 
Our  .Attitude  Toward  Them?"  by  .\|r  Ct-,,.  W .  Booth.  Chief  En- 
gineer of  tile  Xati'>i,;il  [Joan!  ni  Fire  I  rwlerwriters  Xew  York 
City. 

FIRE  HAZARD  OF  NITROCELLULOSE  MOVING  PIC- 
TURE FILMS  AND  PYROXYLIN  COMPOUNDS: 
WHAT  SHOULD  BE  OUR  ATTITUDE 
TOWARD  THEM? 
Mr.  Booth:     Mr    Pr'-sulent.  I  ,im  ,i;ui.i-  t,,  ;,^k  your  permis- 
sion  for  a   sligiit  change  in   the  title,  that  in>tead  of  the   word 
"Ivoroid"  you  substitute  "rynv.xylin  Conii)(<unds." 

Perhaps  it  will  not  be  amiss  in  c<msi(lering  this  subject  t.. 

171 


begin  with  a  general  statement  as  to  the  methods  of  preparation 
of  nitr.vcellulose  compounds  and  some  of  the  physical  charac- 
tcnstics  of  the  different  types  of  these  compounds.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  quotation  from  a  statement  prepared  by  an  expert 
connected  with  one  of  the  well-known  companies  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  these  products : 

"CelluloPe.  when  treated  with  mixtures  of  sulphuric  and 
nitric  ncids  under  different  conditions,  forms  nitrates  of  cellu- 
lose of  varied  character,  suitable  to  the  different  purposes  fur 
which  th<y  are  used.  The  chief  means  of  distinguishing  them 
IS  the  percentage  of  nitrogen  they  contain,  which  ranges  from 
10.5%  to  13.5%,  although  the  character  of  the  nitro-cellulo.se  does 
not  depend  entirely  upon  its  per  cent  of  nitrogen. 
"Some  of  the  principal  types  are : 

"High  grade  -iin  cotton,  containing  13.3^'!  to  13.7';!  of  nitro- 
gen, which  is  .soluble  in  acetone  but  insoluble  in  ether-alcohol 
L.id  other  solvents  of  the  lower  nitrates. 

"Pyronitrocellulose,  with  a  standard  nitrogen  content  of 
12.6%,  the  base  of  most  smokeless  ix>wders.  is  soluble  in  ether- 
alcohol  but  not  soluble  in  methyl  alcohol,  amyl  acetate,  and  oth- 
er solvents,  as  are  the  lower  nitrates. 

"Pyroxylin  covers  a  class  of  nitrocelluloses  containing  10.5'/; 
to  about  12.0%  of  nitrogen,  and  soluble  in  amvl  acetate  and  wood 
alcohol.  They  are  the  most  soluble  of  all  the  nitrocelluloses  and 
are  used  in  the  various  pyroxylin  industries. 

"Varnish  cottons  or  collodion  cottons,  usually  containing 
11. .v;  to  V2.tr',  of  nitrogen,  are  used  in  making  artificial  leather, 
lacquers  and  enamels,  photographic  film,  and  other  similar  pur- 
poses. 

"For  pyro.xyliii  plastics,  pyro.xylins  are  used  containing  10.57< 
to  11.0';  nitrogen,  soluble  in  the  same  solvents  as  varnish  cot- 
tons, hut  giving  solutions  of  greater  viscosity. 

"The  inflammability  of  cellulose  nitrates  is  dependent  on 
the  percentage  of  iiitn  -en.  Thus,  high-grade  guncotton  is  ig- 
nited by  shock,  differing  i„  this  respect  from  any  other  nitro- 
cellulose. Pyronitrocellulose  is  a  basis  of  explosives,  while  the 
pyro.xylins  as  a  class  are  not  considered  explosive  on  account 
of  iheir  low  nitration.  They  decrease  in  inflammability  with 
the  decrease  in  nitrogen.  Thus,  tests  have  been  made  which 
show  that  a  film  of  pyroxylin  containing  ILO-^r  of  nitrogen  burns 
only  (;.-)%  as  rapidly  as  a  film  of  pyroxylin  containing  12.0% 
of  nitrogen.     I\vroxylin  plastics  containing  camphor  will  bum 

172 


at  a  slightly  lowe^  speed  than  a  film  of  straight  pyroxylin  of 
the  same  nitrogen  content. 

"The  proper  puriiication  of  cellulose  nitrates  is  of  great  im- 
portance, and  when  properly  i)repare<l,  the  compounds  have  ex- 
cellent stability  In  the  early  days  of  thf  plastic  industry  this 
was  not  clearly  ur.derst.Kxl  with  the  result  that  materials  came 
un  the  market  made  of  improperly  stabilized  pyroxylin,  which 
decomposed  on  moderate  application  of  heat  and  caused  fre- 
quent fires  when  carelessly  handled.  Today  in  all  American 
plastics  the  pyroxylin  used  is  very  carefully  purifii-d,  eliminat- 
ing all  traces  of  free  acid  and  stabilizing  the  jjvroxylin.  In  the 
plastic  c>ny)ound  tliere  is  also  included  a  pcrcentajje  of  stabil- 
izing aiitnt.  chitfly  urea,  which  inhibits  dec(iini>o>.iti(in  ni  the 
pyroxylin,  in  case  the  material  is  exposed  to  acid  or  to  a  liisli 
temperature." 

1  shall  ;iot  attempt  to  discuss  questions  relating  to  the  haz- 
ard of  manufacturing  of  moving  picture  film  or  of  i)yroxyliii 
compounds.  Practically  the  whole  output  of  both  these  sub- 
stances is  manufactured  in  a  few  laig-  olants  which  have  in  most 
instances  fully  realized  the  extent  of  ti-e  hazard  involved  and 
have  taken  more  or  less  adequate  precautions  to  guard  agaiiis' 
it.  In  any  event  the  hazard  is  not  a  general  one.  as  is  the  case 
in  the  storage  of  motion  picture  films  in  exchanges  and  in  the 
use  of  pyroxylin  compounds  in  the  numerous  plants  throughout 
the  country  which  use  these  compounds  in  various  processes  of 
manufacture. 

As  rest>ects  the  hazard  of  nitro-cellulose  motion  picture 
film,  it  is  quit(  generally  conceded  that  at  the  present  time  there 
i-i  very  little  to  be  feared  from  the  hazard  in  moving  picture 
theatres,  since  this  hazard  has  been  so  well  safeguarded  by  reg- 
ulations covering  the  construction  of  the  theatres  and  the  booth 
in  which  the  machine  is  installed. 

T!here  is  of  cnirse  a  serious  danger  arisuig  from  the  use 
of  nitro-cellulose  film  in  churches,  schools  and  homes,  since  in 
few  instances  are  there  likely  to  ])e  proper  provisions  in  the  wa-> 
of  a  suitably  \entilate<l  booth   for  the  motion   picture  machine. 

.\t  the  last  convention  of  the  National  I'ire  Protection  .\sso- 
ciation,  held  in  (.)ttawa  in  May  of  this  year,  there  wa.s  adopted 
the  following  resolution: 

"That  the  use  of  ni  -tion  picture  projection  ma- 
chines without  a  standard  bcxuh  ventilated  to  the 
outside  of  the  building,  in  clinrches.  schools,  clubs, 
hospitals  and  homes  be  prohibited   unless  the  film 

17J 


'0 


m 


used  is  of  the  slow-burning  type,  and  that  state  and 
municipal  laws  and  ordinances  be  adopted  regulat- 
ing motion  picture  exchanges,  tending  towards  the 
ultimate  end  that  motion  picture  films  of  the  nitro- 
cellulose type  be  replaced  when  practicable  by  a 
slow-burning  film." 

There  was  considerable  discussion  on  the  last  sentence,  re- 
lating to  the  substitution  of  slow-burning  film  for  the  nitro- 
cellulose class.  Manufacturers  and  users  of  film  are  agreed  that 
tin-  slow-burning  film,  as  now  manufactured,  is  not  a  commer- 
cial success.  Doubtless  inventive  genius  will  ultimately  develop 
a  slow-burjung  film  which  will  be  a  commercial  success,  but  in 
the  mean  time  there  is  a  tremendous  stock  of  nitro-cellulose  film 
being  manufactured  and  which  will  continue  to  be  stored  and 
u-cd  until  it  is  worn  out. 

Motion  picture  exchanges  undoubtedly  present  the  most 
strious  conditions  in  the  industry,  and  that  they  do  constitute 
a  real  and  very  live  hazard  is  prove<l  by  the  number  of  fires, 
usually  attended  with  considerable  loss  of  life,  which  have  oc- 
i  iiri  cd  in  a  number  of  exchanges  within  the  la.st  few  years,  and 
I'v  insi>ections  which  demonstrate  that  most  exchanges  are 
housed  in  buildings  not  fitted  for  such  occupancy  and  are  con- 
ducted in  an  extremely  hazardous  manner. 

The  logical  thing  to  do,  therefore,  seems  to  be  to  safe- 
iruard  the  st'>rai,re  and  Iiandling  of  the  nitro-cellulose  film  by 
>uitable  regulations  and  to  use  all  our  influence  towards  the 
doption  and  strict  enforcement  of  these  regulations  by  state 
\ml  city  authorities.  There  have  just  been  i.ssued  by  the  \a- 
'  .nal  j'.aairi  rcgulation>  covering  the  storage  and  handling  of 
nitro-cellulose  film  as  recommended  by  the  National  Fire  Pro- 
tection Association  a+  its  last  meeting.  Acknowledgment  should 
1h-  given  for  the  very  great  assistance  rendered  by  the  Eastman 
kodak  Company  in  the  preparation  of  these  regulations  and  for 
the  supiM)rt  i)k-(igf(l  to  their  observance  l)y  the  National  Asso- 
ciation of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry  in  a  set  of  resolutions 
adopted  by  that  association.  There  siu>uld  a!.-^)  be  mentioned 
the  active  campaign  now  being  conducted  jointly  by  the  East- 
man Kodak  C'unii)any  and  the  National  .Association  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Industry  to  educate  the  managers  of  motion  picture 
"Nchanges  throughout  the  country  as  to  the  dangers  involved 
and  the  best  way  to  meet  them  Much  giK)d  is  to  be  expected 
inim  this  campaign  but  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  situation  can 
1h-  completely  met   witlvont  the  active  co-operation  of  city  offi- 

i74 


■B 


cials  in  adopting  suitable  regulations  and  providing  for  their 
strict  enforcement,  including  frequent,  almost  constant,  inspec- 
tions of  the  film  exchanges  and  storages. 

In  the  following  discussion  I  shall  draw  largely  from  a 
pamphlet  which  will  he  issued  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters  in  the  near  future,  descriptive  of  the  results  of 
tests  made  to  determine  the  best  methods  of  storing  and  pro- 
tecting nitro-cellulose  film. 

"Xitro-celkilose  film  is  readily  combustible  and  inflammable 
and  its  properties  have  been  the  subject  of  much  investi^jation. 
One  of  the  interesting  characteristics  of  film  is  tiiat  of  (lec<mi- 
jmsition  or  flameless  combustion  at  a  relatively  low  temperature. 
Tests  show  that  when  subjected  to  a  temperature  of  :J02°  F.  tor 
four  minutes,  or  .120°  F.  for  one  minute  and  forty-three  seconds. 
decomposition  occurs.  Again  decomposition  frequently  changes 
into  combustion  and  also  decomposition  is  accompanied  hy  evo- 
Uition  of  considerable  quantities  of  gases  having  a  variahli^-  chem- 
ical composition  of  such  nature  that  gas  explosions  ma\  or  may 
not  be  caused.    Nitro-cellulo.se  film  proper  is  not  an  ex^Wosive. 

"For  several  years  no  general  attempt  was  made  tr.  draft  and 
enforce  regulation.'^  covering  the  handling  and  storage  ..f  film 
in  exchanges  and  other  places  where  large  quantitit-  Wre  han- 
dled or  kept.  Various  local  underwriting  organi:«iS!i.ns  com- 
piled regulations  which  generally  consisted  of  an  attempt  t<i 
segregate  film  from  other  occupancy  and  to  isolate  the  actaal 
storage  in  a  vault,  it  being  believed  that  the  principal  dangers 
could  I)c  taken  care  of  by  reducing  the  chances  of  ignition  of  the 
film.  Thus  it  became  generally  recognized  that  the  storage  of 
film  should  be  in  vaults  or  cabinets. 

•'f  )n  Sept.  r,  I  !»(!!>.  a  severe  fire  and  explosion  .Kcurred  in  the 
r-ergus<rn  Duilding.  Third  avenue.  Pittsburgh,  in  one  of  the  film 
exchanges.  An  awrcurate  and  careful  investigation  was  naade  of 
the  fire,  which  na?  shown  to  be  caused  bv  the  hreakinff  of  an 
electric  light  bulb  in  the  film  vault.  The  reel  ot  film  igroed 
was  thrown  out  of  the  vault  and  the  door  closed,  but  other  rt-els 
remaining  in  the  vault  had  ignited,  or  were  set  on  tire  by  elec- 
tric arcs.  The  vault  Iiad  brick  walls  and  a  heavy  iron  door'equip- 
ped  with  holt  and  combination  lock  and  contained  18.")  reels  of 
film,  or  about  '.m  pounds,  but  did  not  have  any  opening  or  vent 
extending  to  the  outer  air,  which  at  this  time  is  recegnizeii  as 
being  es.sential.  Decomposition  took  place  in  the  vault  and  the 
gases  were  forced  around  the  door  cracks,  into  the  adjacent  roora. 
where  they  mixed  with  air  and  caused  a  violent  explnsicn. 

175 


i)i 


"As  part  of  the  investigation  of  this  firt,  a  study  was  made 
of  decomposition  products  hy  the  United  States  Geological  Sur- 
vey, Explosive  Division. 

"The  gases  of  decomposition  are  a  mixture  of  the  ordinary 
gases,  carbon  monoxide,  carbon  dioxide,  hydrt>giu,  nitrogen,  oxy- 
gen, N2()4  and  X2O5.  together  with  some  tarry  matter.  The 
percentage  of  these  gases  is  a  vanat)ie  one  and  depends  on  the 
conditions  that  exist  when  decomposition  takes  place.  For  ex- 
ample: if  decomposition  occurs  under  pressure  the  percentage 
of  carbon  monoxide  and  hydrogen  will  be  high,  thus  giving  a 
grea;  probability  of  an  explosive  gas  mixture  witli  air.  (>n 
the  other  hand,  under  ordinary  pressures,  the  hydrogen  and  car- 
bon monoxide  are  present  in  lower  percentages. 

"During  a  series  of  tests  mciie  by  the  Eastman  Kodak  Com- 
pany, an  analysis  was  made  of  decomposition  products  in  a  film 
stnrag-e  vault  of  one-half  standard  size  with  proper  vent  and  au- 
tomatic sprinkler  protection  under  conditions  that  duplicate  the 
actual  commercial  storage  and  handling  of  film.  The  gases  an- 
alyzed indicated  the  possibilities  of  explosive  mixtures  due  to 
IT)  per  cent  of  carbon  monoxide  present,  but  attempts  to  produce 
such  explosions  were  not  successful,  the  decomposition  products 
burning,  however,  with  intermittent  flame.  This  indicates  that 
gases  of  decomposition,  even  though  not  resulting  in  explosions, 
may  assist  in  the  spread  of  fire. 

"In  practically  all  film  fires  two  general  conditions  have  been 
observed : 

"FIRST— That  with  inadequate  or  insufficient  ventilators 
gas  explosions  take  place.  The  explosion  which  blov.  out  the 
rear  of  the  second  floor  of  tlie  film  exchange  fire  in  F/asburgh, 
January  7,  l!)in,  was  caused  by  ab.solutely  inadequate  vents.  The 
same  condition  caused  the  Ferguson  building  explosion. 

"SICCOND— That  with  ventilation  or  an  opportunity  for  the 
gases  to  i,Ht  to  the  <  uter  air,  the  vault  with  its  decomposing  film 
becomes  practically  a  gas  generator  and  evolve^  large  volumes 
of  combustible  gas  which  liurns  outside  the  hinldinc,'.  The  in- 
ten-se  fire  occurs  not  inside  the  building,  but  outside  where  ample 
o.xygen  is  available. 

"The  Ferguson  building  fire  in  litOit  and  subsequent  inves- 
tigation indicated  the  necessity  of  the  pressure  vent  or  ventila- 
tors for  the  storage  i)f  nitto-cellulose  film. 

"In  1915  a  series  of  experiments  was  conducted  by  a  sub- 
committee of   the   National    Fire   Protertinn    .\ssociation   to  de- 

176 


tenmnc  tl,e  proper  size  of  vem  in  order  to  keep  pressure  from 
•.u.hi.np  up  to  such  ar,  extent  as  to  force  the  gase  of  decomT 
.t.o„  through  the  closed  doors.  A  .eries  of^pre.i.ina^Te^. 
vva.-,  run  to  determnu-  the  vent  area  for  100  pounds  of  film  and 
.was  found  that  an  effective  opening  of  140  square    „  he'    "er 

of  recent  f.res  has  made  u  evident  that  this  size  of  pressure  vent 
IS  absolutely  necessary. 

"On  April  yv.  I'M.'.,  a  test  of  a  vault  of  133  cubic  feet   and 

provided  with  a  venf  arpi  .^f  •>a-    ,  .        '""""-  ■«^«^^  ana 

h«  ,K  ,  "^    '    '!"'"■''  '"*^hes  as  required  bv 

the  above  rule,  was  conducted  nt  Leonia  Heights.  N   J      The  ob^ 

^:^:l^::::  T  '     ■'"^'"'"^  '  undue^re^uri  wduldt 
enerated    Jur  n^.  decomposition  or  burning  of  the  film.     There 
was  a  total  of  l...(..,  ,>ounds  of  fil.n  in  reels,  nearly  all  in  sen 
arate  metal  containers:  4lo  ,K>unds  of  this  was  nLeVo         cZ 
amers  and  was  laid  on  the  floor,  the  remaining  was  on  rack 
iRnmon  was  made  by  a  spark  plug  embedded  in  gasoline  soaked 

"The  film  vault  opening  was  closed  by  thin  glass  in  a  litrht 
^.KxJen  sash.  Three  seconds  after  the  ignition  the  glas  lew 
out  and  at  no  t.me  did  the  internal  pressure  exceed  on e- 1  ah" 
pound  per  square  inch,  showing  that  the  vent  area  was  in  n"o- 

and  e.ght  feet  ,n  diameter  issued  from  the  vent  opeiung  of  the 
vault  and  wa.s  maintained  for  about  ninetv  seconds     Thi.  flame 

age  which  would  result  to  adjoining  buildin,;.  i„  case  the  vent 
opening  exposed  other  structures  across  the  usual  street 

of  I  ire  I  n.k-rwnters  were  revised  to  provide  for  adequate  vent 
openings.  This  revision  al.so  for  the  first  time  recognL  d  the 
advantage  of  sprinkler  equipments  in  the  extinguishing  o  thi! 
hazardous  material.  ^ 

"The  marked  intensity  of  the  flame  from  film,  the  rapiditv 

the  iIToVa' t  /"^  T'''''-'  ^^^"^  ^^-^  ^^•^'-■--^  '^'^ 
the  need  of  a  tl.. rough  investigation  of  the  value  and  extent  of 

automatic  sprinkler  equipment  in  vault  storage.     This  was  t" 

ken  up  by  the  Eastman  Kodak  Company  and  a  series  of  ex^eH^ 

ments  and  studies  made.     These  tests  were  primarilv  to  dete  - 

-ne  whet  er  sufficient  sprinkler  equipment 'could  be  i: stalled 

Iz'.rd  to  H  ^'■"■"'  ^'^^''^■^^-"'<>"  ^  the  film  and  lessen  the 
hazard  to  other  occupancies  and  adjoining  buildings  from  direct 

177 


flame  from  the  vent  and  also  from  the  effects  of  a  possible  ex- 
plosion. 

"A  preliminary  study  of  previous  fires  in  material  of  this 
nature  indicated  as  a  primary  consideration  that  the  amount  of 
water  used  in  extinguishing  film  must  be  large,  due  to  the  neces- 
sity of  reducing  the  temperature  of  the  film  below  the  decom- 
position point,  which  is  very  low. 

"In  all  cases  a  vent  opening  of  full  size  was  provided.  This 
window  vent  opening  was  kept  closed  by  a  string  of  fusible  links 
at  intervals  across  the  vault.  Its  operation,  in  all  cases,  was 
quick,  ranging  from  10  to  40  seconds  after  ignition. 

"In  some  of  the  tests  the  vault  was  not  subdivided  by  par- 
titions extending  to  the  floor,  as  these  tests  were  to  study  pres- 
ent conditions  of  storage  where  partitions  are  practically  never 
used.  Ceiling  baffles  were  installed  to  prevent  the  operating 
head  from  playing  on  one  which  had  not  yet  opened.  Based  on 
the  preliminary  study  and  the  practical  possibilities  in  the  in- 
stalling of  the  sprinkler  heads,  it  was  decided  that  a  ratio  of 
twelve  heads  to  a  standard  vault  of  750  cubic  feet  was  the  best 
arrangement  that  could  be  made.  The  present  film  storages  in 
the  country,  if  equipped  with  sprinklers  at  all,  have  less  than 
four  heads,  and  usually  only  two,  in  a  standard  size  vault. 

"Of  particular  interest  in  the  storage  of  film  is  the  possibil- 
ity of  rekindling  fires  after  sprinklers  have  been  shut  off.  In 
one  of  the  tests,  conducted  between  5)  and  10  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, it  was  believed  that  the  sprinklers  had  completely  extin- 
guished the  fire.  Tart  of  the  film  was  removed  and  then  placed 
back  in  the  vault ;  nine  and  one-half  hours  after  the  test  the  con- 
tents of  the  vault  took  fire  and  were  consumed,  as  the  sprink- 
lers had  been  shut  off. 

"The  correct  procedure,  after  film  fires,  is  to  open  and  in- 
spect each  and  every  container  and  separate  every  bit  of  film 
that  ha^  been  charred  badly  and  decomposed,  or  Deen  injured 
ill  :<i:y   way. 

"This  recourse  of  decomposition  after  the  fire  was  apparently 

iut  was  evident  in  other  tests  and  indicates  the  need  of  allowing 

spr=nklers  to  operate  until  a  hose  line  can  be  brought  into  play. 

"No  tests  have  been  made  as  to  the  protection  afforded  by 
automatic  sprinklers  for  film  on  tables  in  process  of  operation. 
Actual  fire  experience  has  been  that  automatic  sprinklers,  pro- 
vitU-ti  rtilFi  an  ample  water  supply,  will  control  a  lire  under  these 
conditions,  if  the  amount  of  film  is  small.     These  conclusions 

ITS 


may  also  be  deduced  from  the  results  of  the  tests  made  on  vault 
/<nd  cabinet  storage.  !t  is  evident  that  the  amount  of  film  per- 
mitted on  tables,  counters  and  other  places  must  he  kept  to  a 
minimum. 

"By  providing  numerous  cabin(  ts.  all  well  ventilated  and 
equipped  with  automatic  sprinklers,  or  installing  vaults  at  p  .ints 
convenient  to  the  receiving  and  handling  of  film,  it  is  believed 
that  the  hazard  of  film  exchanges  and  like  places  will  be  mate- 
rially reduced. 

"The  results  of  the  various  tests,  together  with  a  studv  of 
tile  evidence  deduced  from  the  fires  of  the  past,  indicate: 

"First— Automatic  sprinkler  protection  is  imperative  in  pre- 
ventmg  loss  of  life  and  seriou>  property  damage  wherever  film 
IS  handled  or  stored,  and  even  a  sub-standard  svstem  is  bene- 
ficial. 

"Second— To  reduce  loss  of  film  to  a  reasonable  figure  and 
the  .lecompositi.n  to  a  point  where  the  gas  cloud  does  not  in- 
troduce a  severe  exposure  hazard  and  there  is  little  liability  of 
an  explosion,  automatic  sprinkler  protection  must  consist  of  an 
adequate  number  of  sprinkler  heads,  at  least  twelve  to  a  stand- 
ard vault  of  750  cubic  feet,  and  an  abundant  water  supply,  ca- 
pable of  supplying  water  for  at  least  twenty  minutes  to  the  full 
number  of  heads  in  a  vault  and  at  least  one-half  of  the  heads  in 
any  other  .section  between  fire  partitions. 

"Third— That  for  effective  control  of  film  fires  bv  auto- 
matic sprinklers  it  is  necessary  to  insulate  masses  of  film  from 
one  another  by  partitions,  and  that  these  parti-  ons  are  of  great 
value  in  vault  storage. 

"Fourth— That  without  adequate  ventilati  n  to  the  outside 
.;nr  any  considerable  amount  of  film  will  generate  conditions 
introducing  a  severe  life  hazard  and  a  probable  heavy  property 
damage  from  explosion. 

"Fifth— That  arrangement  of  work  rooms,  and  other  places 
V  here  film  is  handled,  must  be  kept  practically  free  of  filtn :  all 
reels  to  be  placed  and  kept  in  properly  constructed  and  pro- 
tected cabinets  and  vaults  when  not  in  actual  process  of  being 
handled. 

"Sixth— That  the  highest  order  of  housekeeping  must  be 
exercised :  the  rooms  be  kept  clean,  and  fire  equipment  in  good 
order. 

"Seventh — That  because  of  the  nature  of  the  gases,  danger 
of  spread  of  fire  and  the  rapidity  of  the  burning  of  film,  protec- 

179 


IMCMOCOn   RKOIUTION   TEST  CHART 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


A     -APPLIED  IIVHGE 


'6^3   Eost   Moin  Street 

<716)    482  -  0300  -  Phone 
(7t6)    288  -  5989  -  Fa. 


I' SPftt. 


tion  to  life  requires  superior  construction  in  buildinirs  used  for 
ttnTr  ^""'"^  ''  ""•  '''  P"*''^"'-  "-^  is  theTrot  c- 
Ird  .he    Ih  r""r^^'  :'"r'''  ^""  ''"^^^-"^  ^'^^  between  floors. 

prev:^t:s-;f;ir  ^^:-'°-^  ^^^^^  -'^^  -^  — >  - 

tance"u>"hl77';"'  '"  T""  '^'^"^t'""^*'""-  ^^  is  of  pritnary  impor- 
tance to  have  door  of  easy  operation  and  that  it  be  kept  nor 
-ally  c  osed.     As  a  further  provision  of  safetv,  to  prev/nt    iis- 

l.f.H"^'"/''"'^''^^^'''"  ""^^  ^^  ''^'■"^  '"  =>  ^'a«lt  properly  venti- 
ated   and  protected  by  automatic  sprinklers,  the  entire  instal- 

L.,on   c.,nform,n,   to   the    National    Board   regulations.   :nd    !f 

ti-olIedS      V  --easonably  certain  that  the  fire  will  be  con- 

roiled  by  the  automatic  sprinklers  and  considerable  film  will 

remam  un.njured  except  for  water,  and  that  the  exposure  LI  d 

to  surroundmg  property  will  be  slight. 

"Eleventh-That  good  housekeeping  is  of  most  vital  impor- 

fnm"irh".VH'";  "';"  ''^''>'  '""^--able  material,  such  as 
f.Im.  ,s  handled;  that  full  compliance  with  storage  requirements 
-  necessary  and  that  responsibility  for  these  con^diti:'"  mus  be 
placed  on  a  competent  employe. 

"Twelfth-That  the  above  features  can   be  obtained  onlv 

t;:nT;x3ht  :a:h'd':;.'^^^"^  ''''^''  ^-^--  ^-p- 

"The  importance  of  careful   planning  and   arrangement  of 

f  rmfo  tr""  "'^'  '^"^'^"'^^  '''''  ^'  '^''  ^'^  install!  r  on 
form  to  the  requirements,  is  apparent." 

The  general  problems  relating  to  the  handling  and  stora-^e 
o    pyroxylm  compounds  are  similar  to  those  of  nitro-cellu  o^e 

somewhat  less  by  reason  of  the  thickness  and  form  in  which 
pyroxylin  is  usually  manufactured. 

A  series  of  tests  has  just  been  completed,  with  the  co-ooer 

tirbe:  tth^r'^f  r  ^^^.r-'^-^---'  ^-----n.  to  derm'^e 
ducts  tT,  °f ''^"^''"^-  ^^-ing:  and  protecting  these  pro- 
ducts. The  results  have  not  yet  been  fully  analyzed,  nor  regu- 
lations completed,  but  it  is  expected  that  this  will  be  Lcom- 
pl-shed  m  the  next  lew  months.     Doubtless  the  same  principles 

180 


protection,     U.       ,"^    i  ";:    ?"  '"'^T''  '"^°"^^''^  ^''^■"•^'- 
too  large  for  snrinkL        ?    !  '"■"''""'  '"'"  quantities  not 

«„„„„  ,„h„„,..leepf„g  c„„di,i„„",  .r,  ci^a^ilirl         '      "'  ''' 

topic,  whcl      -e  carrt^^o"%"'  ^u"^  '"  '""  °"  *"  ^'^  "-» 
ion  Fire  Commi'ssioner,  of  OtUwa  ^-         "  '""''•  ^'°"'"- 

INDIVIDUAL  LIABILITY  AGAINST  FIRE 

.hak^A  ^™*^'     -^V-  ^''''^'"'  ^"''  '"^'"'^^rs  of  the  Fire  Mar 
"halh   Association  of  Xorth  AmenV-,  •     i  u 

per  upon  this  subject      I  thought  n    I  "°'  ^'"^^'''^  "  P"" 

iustafewren,arJwhich  I  wXak':^     '^^^  '^'°"  "°"''  ''^^^"  ^° 

fir.  preT;n";i:,rrf;!'rt  j"  ';■  r^  '■"""■^"^  °" "-  --^  -« 
justUct,rw"h:n:  i^  tifi^reV;:;:;--;:  i^r^  ^^rT- 

ne  at  fire  waste >  T  tJ,,„i,  t  • ,  •  ^"""S-  How  are  we  look- 
eon  that  I  cfn^.a  i  '  ^eT  ^^  fot  ^  '''°''  ^°"  "  '""^•'- 
$35,000,000  and  that  we  Ld  abou  17  ,m  r  ""m  ""°""*^'  *° 
come  to  analyze  the  matter  we     nd  tlTt  ru^h.  t"  "^ 

per  cent  of  that  total  fire  In.  /        ^  ^  speaking  80 

f,v»e     I        1.  '  -^  occurred  in  somethine  like  200 

population  I  1  '"*'"^  "■■  '"^'""'"^^  ^'^  ^^'"-^-  t'^^  -hole 

population  of  the  country  to  deal  with  the  fire  waste    wc  .Jn 

.Tr^r^re:.  ^"^  ^^  ^^'^^  '''  ^^^  ^^  ^ e.^of  ;;: 

So  far  as  individual  liability  or  responsibility  is  concerned 
ot,  are  fully  cognizant  of  the  fact  that  it  has  been  recognized 

forth  L  T'-     ^"'^^  ^'^  °'^  ^f---^  -^e  it  wasset 

>ennr    ?K^  ""'",  ^^°  ''"'^^  ^^"^^^^  ^^^  ^is  neighbor  shouW  be 
penalized  by  replacing  that  which  was  destroyed     Th^t T 

rri:r\:V':.7r"^""  i^-  -^  -^  --  -u^br;;  the'' :  ^r 

tncs.  but  chiefly  o,   Great   Britain,   upon   whose  common   law 

181 


I'^l 


T  eZtTni  „    ",°'   ^^"/'^^/"^   ^he   United   State,  is   based. 

u,rlJ     T  '  "•■  "^^  ^"'"""  '=°^'^-  embodied  other  fea- 

ures.  makmg  a  man  liable  under  the  civil  law.     That  became ' 

part  of  the  statutes  of  all  the  countries  which  followed  the  Ro 

z  n"  1 1' :;;  ?""•  ^^™^">  -'^  --  otiJEu!:;^^ 

^ountru.s    ,n   .South  America,  in   Mexico,  we  find  that  anyone 
us,ng  damage  to  a  neighbor's  property  is  liable  to  L  ion  at 
uvd  law  to  repair  the  damage  or  destruction  that  has  been  done 
In  Canada,  as  I  say.  we  follow  the  common  law  of  England  and 
a  man  who  causes  a  loss  to  his  neighbor  is  liable  to  an  at" 
under  the  comn.on  law.  but  in  the  province  of  Quebec  we  have 
there  wnttenn,  the  civil  statutes  a  law  following  the  o^  Code 
tXoTJ    f """'  I''-''  '''''''  ^'"^  ^  "'^  '^  ^^'^'^  to  a^!l 

have  .?   "  n     ^PP'r''""  ""■  ^"^^'■'^-'"-"t  of  the  civil  law  as  we 
t        ,  T    ^  '■     ''""''  "  '"'"  '"^>'  '^°"^^^^-t  out  of  his  liabil- 

b.ht>  to  h.s  neighbor  and  to  his  landlord,  and  his  liabilitv  in  all 
matters  that  are  part  of  the  civil  code  of  France,  and  in  Quebec 
the  same  is  true.  v^utuci. 

\\  e  have  had  a  number  of  actions  tried  in  Canada    in  other 

ZZTT""  ^r'^.^f  "^"  '^^^'^  -^^^^  -">^t^^  >"'^  C 

becaase  of  property  which  has  been  destroyed      The  railwnv 
have  been  fined  and  penalised  because  of  the'destrlln'f\t 
stacks  and  growing  crops  alongside  the  railways,  but  we  hav'e 

detrucfon  of  adjacent  buildings.  The  department  to  which  I 
be  ong  studied  this  whole  question  ana  decided  that  we  could 
not  get  very  far  in  the  prevention  of  fire  unless  we  could  haw 
placed  in  the  statutes  of  Canada  something  similar  to  the  law  o 
wnH  -^Tu'^  ''f "  ""^  "^°-^'^  European  countries.  So  it 
enacteT  f  ''  '1'  '"'P'^'"^'-'  ^^at  we  would  attempt  to  have 
enacted  a  law  making  a  man  responsible  for  negligence  Some 
of  you.  perhaps  all  of  you.  are  aware  of  the  law  uhich  was  pS 
upon  the  statute  books  of  the  Dominion  last  April.     I  p,.' eTa 

each  hav e  a  copy  if  you  care  to  take  it.    Canada  is  the  first  coun- 
try in  the  modern  civilized  world  which  has  passed  such  a  law. 
The  first  section  states: 

t«.n  "^^^''  °"'  • '  ^"*"-'  °^  '"  '"dictable  offense  and  liable  to 
two  years'  imprisonment  who  by  negligence  causes  anv  fi  e 
which  occasions  loss  of  life  or  loss  of  property/' 

182 


I 


That,  you  may  say,  is  rather  drastic.    Then  arises  the  nues- 
tmn  of  how  we  are  to  define  negligence.     The  following  clause 

"The  person  owning,  occupying  or  controlling  the  prem- 
ises m  which  such  a  fire  occurs,  or  on  which  .such  fire  originates 
shall  be  deemed  to  have  caused  the  f.re  through  negligence  if 
such  person  has  failed  to  obey  the  requirements  of  any  law  in- 
ended  to  prevent  fires  or  which  requires  apparatus  for  the  ex- 
tmgu.shment  of  fires  or  to  facilitate  the  escape  cf  persons  in  the 
event  of  f,re,  if  the  jury  finds  that  such  fire,  or  the  loss  of  life 
or  the  whole  ..r  any  substantial  portion  of  the  loss  of  property' 
would  not  have  occurred  if  such  law  had  been  complied  with.  • 

Xow  that  is  a  straight  definition  of  negligence.  Under  that 
particular  clause  and  under  the  civil  law  a  man  may  be  liable 
twice.  He  may  be  liable  under  the  criminal  code  as  having 
been  guilty  of  an  indictable  offense  and  he  may  be  liable  at 
civil  law  under  an  action  of  tort.  Therefore  his  neighbor  if  he 
IS  damaged,  may  take  action  against  him  and  may  trv  to  re- 
cover damages.  There  is  always  the  difficulty,  however.'  in  civil 
actions  as  I  said  in  the  case  of  Quebec,  that  it  may  be  contracted 
away  through  the  insurance  companies,  or  by  a  previous  agree- 
ment.    The  act  further  .states; 

•'When  any  Dominion,  Provincial  or  Municipal  fire  officer 
or  authority  recomn.ends  to  the  owner,  lessee  or  other  person 
controlling  or  operating  any  building,  structure,   factory    shin- 
yard,  vessel,  dock,  wharf,  pier,  sawmill,  or  yard  in  which  logs 
or  lumber  are  stored  or  held,  that  any  reasonable  change   alter- 
ation or  addition  should  be  n.ade  in  or  to  such  building   struc- 
ture,  factory,   ship-yard,  vessel,  dock,   wharf,   pier,   sawmill    or 
yard  with  a  view  to  safeguarding  life  or  property  from  destruc- 
"  by  fire,  or  that  any  material  should  be  removed  therefrom 
_  .i  such  view,  or  that  any  apparatus  should  he  supplied  therefor 
with   such   view;  and  if  such   recommendation   is  approved   by 
any  officer  in  the  service  of  His  Majesty,  thereto,  authorized  by 
the  Governor  in  Council ;  and  if  notice  of  such  recommendation 
and  approval  has  been  personally  served  upon  such  owner,  lessee 
or  other  person ;  and  if.  after  the  expiration  of  thirty  day's  from 
the  receipt  of  such  notice,  such  owner,  lessee  or  other  person  re- 
fuses, neglects  or  otherwi.se  fails  to  carry  out  such  recommenda- 
tion to  the  satisfaction  of  the  officer  in  the  service  of  His  Ma- 
jesty hereinbefore  mentioned,  such  owner,  lessee  or  other  per- 
son shall  be  guilty  of  an  indictable  offense   and  shall    be  liable 
to  a  fine  uf  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars,  or  to  imprison- 

183 


n 


1 '.  - : 


)      ■    «• 


Xou-    that    covers    the    point   of   view    tliat' we    have   often 

r:e';:/c:nir'  '^f  r"^^-^  ---'  ^-^ '°"'  -^"-  ^^^  -- ^- 

1-.  ted  StaLs     tT    f    "■"""'  ''^  ^^"^  ^'^'"^  '^  *^"-  in  the 

"  h'  aJute  o7  'T  "'"  ""'^^  ^'^  '"'"''  •"  -"travention 
11        T  .   '"■'^'"^•-•^  "i*^--^'/  "ses  a  little  wire-pulling  on 

th  local  counci  and  immediately  he  can  build  just  how  he  hkes 
wuhout  observmg  the  law.  If  such  cases  are  brou,.ht  o  the 
attent.on  of  my  department  we  are  empowered  to  step  in  Ind  to 
make  orders  wh.ch  must  be  carried  out.  A  safe.^uard  is  also 
rlcirS'""  ""'''''  ''-''''  ''  '-^'  -^-^ities^that  maV",: 

fied  Il'T  %  ''''  °^  'J'^'''  ^'■'■'  ^^''^  ^h°  i-^  "°t  a  well-quali- 
f.ed  man.  He  may  order  an  owner  of  propertv  to  ^  to  verv 
great  expense  in  installing,  some  type  of  apparatus  IMhe  maT 
ter  were  referred  to  my  department,  it  would  be  thorouly  h  ' 
vest,gated  by  competent  engineers,  who.  before  an  ord  fwou  d 

rman'co;;  'r^,'^''^^^'"^"''  -""-"'^  ^"">'  determine "he^h  ' 
he  man  could  afford  to  carry  out  such  an  improvement  and  also 
f  the  .mprovement  would  benefit  the  property  and  would  sat^fs- 
factonly  prevent  fires. 

The  reason  we  took  this  action  was  because  the  fire  waste 

t  ties,  but  the  greater  part  of  it  occurs  in  the  large  properties 
Men  who  occupy  such  properties  are  responsible  men  anS  ^tt 
of  them  do  not  protect  their  properties.  They  will  not  ob^rve 
the  laws  because  they  do  not  care  to  go  to  the  expense  of  install 
ng  proper  protect.on.  and  we  need  the  law  behind  us  to  force 
the  hands  of  those  men.  We  feel,  with  the  power  this  act  giv  s 
u^.  that  wc  are  free  to  work  through  the  ..ruvincial  Fire  Mar- 
shals and  the  local  Fire  department  officials,  and  that  we  have 
somethmg  wh.ch  may  in  time  bring  about  a  rea.<^nable  reduc- 
tion  m  the  fire  waste  in  Canada. 

More  than  ever  our  people  today  are  recognizing  that  thev 
are  md.v.dual'y  responsible  to  the  common  weal.  When  wc 
entered  the  war  we  were  very  much  of  individuals.  Every  man 
was  a  law  unto  himself.  But  there  has  been  a  great  change  in 
he  at  itude  of  our  people,  and  I  take  it  this  is  also  true  in  the 
Ln.ted  States.  Because  of  this.  I  believe  the  people  of  Canada 
are  w.llmg  to  have  such  laws  as  that  which  was  passed  at  the 
last  session  of  the  Dominion  government,  which  will  curb  and 

184 


le 


and  for  th.  ,00.,  of  the  counlVanC""^  '     ''"  '"'"'  '"''' 

''ome.  which  is  represen  ;  ,  t    Z''    r"'  '"  """'^  '  '^^'^-   "»■ 

f-  the  last  five  vea  fL  t-  '"''  '"■"■^-"^'"^'  ""cier  it 

l'--'^  had  the  san,eor,|inance   n    ;    "  1'"''"  '^'  '''>-  "^  Cincinnati 

-0-.  an.,  it  w...s^:;:- :  ;"'uhi;r  ;?t^r"  "^.^^'-^"  ^- 

'■ave  Mr.  Connell  tell   „s  s^methin  '"■'  '""'"  ^^^  '"'■^''^t 

"-^i^in.  .nn   satisfaJ,;;;:n^"St:       r    7T:'  ''''  '^^  '^ 
o"S:ht  to  brinj,  up  the  nuestinn     f       I    ■  ,         ""^    ^^^^   somebody 

it.  Tomorrow  mornin,:  s  the  tin  '  ^  '""  °'  ^^"'"^  '"  "" 
all  these  problems.  Mr  BlnasH  T  ""v^"'"^  *"  ^^*  '"  - 
very  excellent  question  and  h  re  IvTe  o^  "^  ^"■^"  ""^  ^ 
am  frcvins:  to  call  upon  Mr.  W  f  I>olIanl  A  f'  ?  u"'"  •'•■°^'  ' 
vention  Hureau  of  the  International  Ha  teSl/  '''  ^''•^  P"-^" 
^•■UH).    Thev  have  twentv  t«,o  Ji     !    ^^"^^^^ter  Company  of  Chi- 

M?PoZ^  Tfe^r^:-/----  PLANTS. 

-'•'  attempt  to  addre.ss  tc T  a  LX  ^    ll'^'""  '^^"■^  ^-'^>-  -^'^'"^ 
\\  hen  I  was  called     to  the  nf       ^  ''"  ^""^  '^'^'•^  P'^^ent. 

Perkins,  a  few  davs  be^o  e  th  ""•■  '''■""^'^'"^-  •^"•-   "■   ^■ 

I'ancroft,  our  Gener  IcTuns  r""""""  '"'  ■^^''-  "-'"'-•  -^^- 
efficient  State  Fire  Ma^sh^  Mr  Gaml^'th  t"^'  ^'^"^"^  ^^"' 
ronto  and  address  the  convention'    f.u     J'  ^""  ^°  ^''^  '^^O' 

tion  of  K  .-th  America  "\^"1',  r  ^'"■'  •^^"^'^^'^'  •^^^■"^ia- 

cause  I  have  nev^  Jr  tten^n  .'!;•  '  "''''''  '''''*■'  --•  '-- 

f  am  no  public  s^eak  r  and  !f  ,"  .n  ""  T  '"  P"^->^-"  -'' 
-  the  same  clas.fas  ittle  thnnie  aT' h  I"  ""'^  ^  ^"''^  ^^ 
to  plav_l  would  hue  ;,     1  at  school,  who  alwavs  liked 

Vou  hav^tlrea:;;  L"ad  ^ei^^S'-af  ^  ^^^  '''-  ^^"-• 
excellent  papers  on  this  subjecrand   i  o  "'"7""""  '"-"-V 

-•ope.  -The  Hazards  of  Large  ndusti',  Pl.T  ■  ."^^'  "''^^'^ 
->t  presume  to  enumerate  aftle  h  nrl  "?' •  '"''  '  """''' 
Piant  of  such  a  production  as  lu  s^  't  r  Jor^  I'm  ^'^^r'^'  ""  ^ 
-U  ent,rc,y  to  what  I  have  .me  pract^St^^l^t^;^^^ 

185 


0: 


arc  the  lunihtr  _.ar<Is  the  foundries,  the  forj^e  (lepartments.  the 
V  oodworkiii-  (Itpartments,  tlie  warehouse  departments,  machin- 
try,  and  all  that  goes  with  our  corporation  and  many  others. 
The  lumber  yard  is  quite  a  risk.  It  should  be  properly  cleaned 
and  kept  clean  of  grass.  This  applies  particularly  the  heavier 
grade  of  lumber.  Wherever  the  yard  is  exposed  to  streets  the 
lumber  should  be  stored  along  the  streets  and  back  a  g.wd  dis- 
tance from  the  fences.  We  have  wiatchman  service  in  all  our 
lumber  yards. 

Then  we  pass  on  t>  the  foundry.  The  real  hazard  in  the 
foundry  is  the  cupola.  It  should  be  a  fireproof  compartment  in 
the  charging  room  and  of  course  should  have  a  spark  arrester 
in  the  stack  on  the  cupc^Ia.  .so  that  a  spark  will  not  fall  on  the 
combustible  roof  and  cause  a  fire. 

Now  I  pass  to  the  forge  department.  I  am  going  to  cut 
my  remarks  as  short  as  possible  because  vou  have  heard  all 
these  various  things  discussed.  The  forge  department  or  any 
department  like  it  is  a  great  hazard.  We  installed  it  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  National  Fire  Protectio-.i  Standard  Code  and 
in  conjunction  with  the  insurance  companies  that  have  the  risk. 
We  have,  o.'  course,  all  our  pipes  running  into  our  forges,  or  run- 
ning any  other  place  where  we  are  using  fuel  oil  or  similar  oils, 
underground,  with  shut-offs  at  the  levels,  with  the  main  shut- 
off  outside  the  building,  and  svherever  oils  are  used  you  should 
not  have  to  run  to  the  engineer  to  tell  him  to  shut  off  the  oil ; 
you  should  have  a  shut-<^>ff  outside  the  building  plainly  marked 
"Oil  turned  on"  or  "Oil  turned  off." 

Now  we  come  to  the  woodworking  department.  There  is 
no  more  danger  there  than  there  is  in  this  room  if  it  is  kept  clean. 
We  have  an  exhaust  system  to  take  off  the  dust  by  day  and 
night,  and  it  is  removed  every  evening.  We  do  not 'allow  anv 
accumulation  of  sawdust  and  rubbish  in  our  wood  rooms,  and 
in  fact,  I  may  say,  in  any  department  in  our  plants.  An  expen- 
sive system  of  Sprinklers  is  installed,  with  an  inside  standpipe. 
hose  attached,  and  chemicals.  In  some  plants  these  things  are 
left  to  the  mercy  of  chance  until  a  fire  starts,  and  then  as  a  gen- 
eral rule  they  are  out  of  orde.  hut  we  do  not  do  that.  I  am 
sure  that  a  small  factory  as  well  aS  a  large  factorv,  it  is  a  pay- 
ing industry,  can  at  least  afford  to  have  some  one  man  give  at 
least  one  hour  a  day  to  inspecting  those  things.  W^e  have  a 
large  variety  of  plants  and  manufacture  every  piece  that  goes 
into  the  article  we  produce.  We  have  our  own  mines ;  we  have 
steel  mills;  we  have  lumber  mills  and  plant^  fur  everything  that 

186 


1 


1 


goes  to  make  our  inachipe      Anri  ,.,„  u 

.^peaking  for  the  lnternati<;nal  I  l-irve.t..r  r 
the  .McCormick  familv.  their  vvho  e  .  „  ,     h       "''''"-'  •""'  ""■ 
life  and  property,  and' if  we  do     o    pr"    t^      '•  ^'"'''''''''^^^  "' 
-sure  it  is  not  their  fault   l)ecause  thev  V         '"■"''"'^'  '  •'"' 

the  other  officers  of  our    omoanv      V     ''      .'  '''''''  ^""''^  ^"'' 

a  pumping  canacitv  l.v  n  i,i,,i  "f  ni  ser\ice.  \\  e  have 

of  water  per  m!n me      U  J  ^     r''"''  '^"'"^  "^  -^'^^  ^'«'!"- 

working  sixty-five  hours  a  week      I  h^v,    i      Y  "    ''   '"" 

this  work,  gentlemen,  and  oT  cours  tl  i^a  wa  '^''■'^  ^"'f 
repaid.     Next  to  mv  home    that  i^      ,  ,         -'  '■">■  ''•'"" 

all  our  factories  we  havTioo  n  L  'u'""'  ^^^P'"'''  '^-  '" 
-e  department.  Tf  'Z  l"t Vr'T"'  ^^■'"  ^"'"""^-^ 
those  men  a'.ng  the  lines  o    naid  P l         "'"-^^'^^■"^  t"  train 

;;^ind.  of  course^hat  e::^y  ^r '  i^i^^:!:::::  ::-;z  "^ 

but  we  pay  him  well  for  his  services  "  '''' 

The  small  plant  is  the  plant  that  needs  real  protection  •  that 
»  the  plant  where  you  have  a  small  Fire  department 

Now  what  has  all  this  to  do  with  the  papers  reid  here^    V\- 
are  a,m„^g  for  one  thmg.  conservation  of  iff e  anT  .ronertv 
was  very  much  impressed  with  the  remarks  of  t  e  la^f-     nle 
-an  and  I  wish  to  state  to  you  that  the  Internat  ona   Har'-  ster" 

187 


maintenance  of  our  Fire  departments  and  watchmen  and  take 
care  nf  ..urs.lvcs  al-  ne.  I  ran  assure  y'>u,  on  behalf  of  the  offi- 
cers and  the  owners  of  our  company,  that  we  are  deeply  inter- 
ested in  this  subject. 

I  would  like  to  say  somethinfj  about  the  paint  department, 
which  is  another  department  that  is  considered  hazardous.    The 
paint  department  is  not  hazardous  if  proper  equipment  is  in- 
stalled :ui<l  if  vou  R.t  an  i,     omatic  cover,  which  can  be  raised 
to  a  reasonable  heiRht.  say  twenty  feet  from  the  tank.    >  ou  hear 
lots  of  people  savin?  if  vou  Ret  sand  in  the  paint  and  if  you 
tret  sawdust  in  the  paint  it  is  no  gi^ml     Now  from  practical  ex- 
perience, sawdust  and  bicarbonate  of  soda  is  very  ROod  in  an 
cil  fire  if  vou  can  get  it  (^i  quickly,  brt  you  must  work  like  cham 
htrhf    '  to  Ret  it  on.  but  the  chief  thiiip  in  a  paint  department  is 
to  be  .are  that  you  have  an  automatic  cover.    We  have  trucks 
and  those  trucks  are  on  wheels.    We  keep  them  awa:   at  a  safe 
distance  from  our  tank.     We  keep  the  sand  in  the  dip  tanks,  and 
we  use  the  sand  for  banking  purposes,  to  stop  a  fire  from  run- 
ning into  another  room. 

I  am  sor-  -.ur  friend  from  Xew  York  didnt  speak  of  fight- 
ing fires  more  than  he  did  this  morning,  because  that  is  what 
I  am  deeply  interested  in  and  have  been  for  the  .ast  twenty 
years,  but  I  have  a  whole  lot  to  learn.  If  we  have  a  fire  in  the 
paint  department  we  .lon't  open  the  .loors  to  let  the  air  in.  but 
we  perhaps  open  a  door  to  see  where  the  fire  is.  Perhaps  we 
take  a  stream  and  thvow  it  in.  or  throw  it  in  from  the  roof  and 
endeavor  to  heat  the  sprinkler  system  .very  time.  We  don  t 
give  ii  a  chance  to  operate. 

While  I  am  not  a  technical  man,  I  would  like  to  speak  about 
a  few  interesting  things  and  enumerate  the  various  hazards,  such 
as  spontaneous  combustion  and  electrical  fires,  but  you  can 
get  all  that  from  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters.  I 
would  like  to  elaborate  a  11.  'e  bit  on  fire  organization.  We 
have  an  inspection  of  all  fire  equipment  in  our  plant  twice  daily. 
Our  chiefs  and  t  ur  inspectors  are  simply  Fire  Chiefs  and  in- 
spectors, and  their  ^  ities  are  confined  to  that  in  the  small  plant 
as  well  as  to  the  big  one.  We  allow  no  watchmen  to  do  any  other 
work  at  our  plants,  no  s<  rubbing  of  offices  or  anything  of  that 
kind  and  in  the  small  pla  it  we  maintain  a  night  engineer  and  fire- 
man so  that  we  have  a  man  there  to  handle  the  pump  at  any  time. 
and  that  is  where  our  success  comes  in  the  prevention  of  fire. 

Watchmen  in  most  of  the  plants  in  the  country.  I  am  sorry 
to  say.  are  old   mm   who  are,  or  have  been,  working  at  the 

188 


bench,  and  when  they  reach  their  ..l.l  ape  the  question  is,  "W  nat 
will  we  di  with  him?  He  was  a  very  faithful  employe:  what 
uill  w^'  .1..  with  him?"  an.l  he  is  -ivcii  an  ea.sy  joh  a.  watchman 
of  the  plant.  Vuu  will  find  one  or  two  old  nun  in  cliar^;e  >n 
millions  of  dollars  worth  of  property.  Is  it  any  wo.uUr  that 
there  are  fires  and  that  plants  burn  down.  That  is  the  cndi 
uon  you  have  and  that  is  something  you  ji^-'^-tli-nun  sliould  in- 
terest yoursilvo  ill.  i.i  y.  nr  v;!ri..n>  >tatis.  and  -ec  what  kind 
of  service  there  is  in  the  factori'  '. 

For  a  period  <.f  five  years  ])revi(ii!-  In  the  war  the  firi-  lo,>es 
of  all  our  manufacturing:  piants  were  >7\o-is.  That  of  course 
does  not  take  in  warehouses  or  anytliinR  ,.f  the  kind.  I  have 
been  connected  with  the  Irternational  Harvester  Company  for 
twenty-one  years,  .uul  1  know  you  Canadian  menil.ers  will  I)e 
proud  when  I  tell  you  one  of  the  largest  plants  of  its  kind  i>  in 
the  Dominion  of  Canada,  in  Hamilton,  and  the  Fire  department 
of  Hamilton  has  never  entered  its  gales  for  a  perin.l  of  more 
than  eighteen  years. 

Now  in  closi;..;,  one  word.  We  have  been  branded  as  a 
tru.st,  but  yon  never  heard  what  kind  of  trus^  we  were  before. 
in  the  conservation  of  life  and  property.  1  am  very  glad  that 
men  from  some  of  the  states  are  here.  I  don't  suppose  pec  j.le 
in  ihose  states  ever  heard  of  this,  that  we  were  a  trust  in  the 
conservatitm  of  life  and  prop..ty.  when  they  attempted  to  bar 
us  irom  doing  business  in  those  sf-.s.  I  wish  also  to  refer  to 
another  man  who  has  given  his  life  lo  the  work,  J.  J.  Corbett  of 
the  Massey  Harris  Company.  H  you  got  him  started  he  C(juld 
talk  to  you  for  hours 

President  Fleming:     We  will  adjourn  all  discussions  from 

now  on. 

At.  Hussey :     I  move  we  adjourn. 

Mr.  Kc-an:     I  second  it.     (Carried.) 

President  Fleming:  P.efore  we  disperse  I  want  to  intro 
duce  to  you  at  this  time  John  W.  Kussell  .-f  the  'i\)ront.i  F^re 
department:  also  Chief  Corbett.  whom  you  have  met  beliT  . 
We  are  very  hi.ghly  hon  ired  in  having  these  men  with  us.  1 
want  also  to  introduce  t(^  you.  from  the  l'.u.?au  of  Standards 
of  the  United  States  government.  W.  11.  (".lading;  also  M-. 
Banash  «f  Xew  York,  v  .o  has  beer,  one  nt  our  most  faithful 
supporters  all  the  way  through:  also  Mr.  Slaght,  Secretary  of 
the  Fire  Prevention  I'.ureau. 

Mr.  Geo.  F.  Lewis:     Mr.  Tresidtnt  and  gentlemen,  automo- 
biles are  now  ready  to  take  you  to  the  K.xpo-^iti.m. 

189 


FOURTH  DAY'S  PROGRAM 


Friday,  August  29.  1919. 

Morning  Session. 

Mr.  Nettleton:  I  uuuld  like  to  makt-  a  ni..ti.,n  to  the  effect 
that  we  reorfjanize  ..ur  Committee  on  I'uMicJtv.  to  he  known  as 
the  Committee  on  i'lihljcity  and  Education,  and  that  we  also 
ort,ranize  a  standing  committee  on   [.ej^-islation. 

Mr.  Cowar.:  ('r</roiito)  I  secf)n(l  that.  (Carried.) 
President  Fleming:  \ow  I  think  the  last  speech  was  the 
speech  of  Mr.  W.  J.  Pollard,  of  the  International  Fiarvester  Com- 
pany. The  discussion  was  to  be  led  by  Mr.  E.  D.  Reach.  State 
I'ire  Marshal  of  Xebraska,  and  I  am  K"i"K  to  ask  Mr.  Beach  to 
address  us. 

DISCUSSION. 

Mr.  Beach:  Mr.  I'residcnt  and  gentlemen  of  the  Fire  Mar- 
.-hals-  Association:  I  suppose  I  had  better  make  an  explana- 
tion. The  first  request  1  had  to  take  part  in  anv  of  the  sub- 
jects under  discussion  here  was  received  bv  ma'il  possibly  a 
week  before  I  left  home  and  I  was  asked  to  talk  on  the  sub- 
ject of  "Fire  Hazards  in  Large  Industrial  Plants."  We  haven't 
a  large  industrial  plant  in  the  state,  unless  vou  might  count 
the  packing  house;  in  Omaha,  and  I  didn't  take  it  '-  mean  that 
kind  of  plant.  So  far  as  factories  go  we  hav  a  ft ./  small  ones, 
but  they  are  practically  confined  to  two  towns.  I  suppose  (,ne 
town  in  this  part  of  the  country  would  have  more  factories  than 
our  entire  .state,  so  I  felt  I  was  not  competent  to  discuss  the 
subject.  It  would  be  impossible  for  me  to  tell  the  men  who 
have  been  up  against  propositions  of  this  kind  anything  that 
they  do  not  know.  I  declined  to  talk  on  that  subject,  because  I 
felt  I  could  not  be  of  any  benefit  to  anybody.  I  am,  however, 
wonderfully  interested  in  the  different  things  that  come  up.  as 
President  of  the  Xebraska  Xational  Insurance  Company  and  as 
State  Fire  Marshal.  T  think  I  have  been  up  against  manv  of 
the  things  that  have  come  up  before  us.  but  presume  under  the 
program  here  no  discussion  is  allowed  of  anything  except  the 
one  subject. 

I  intend  to  take  up  but  a  minute    of  your    time.      In    my 

190 


i.'i 


work,  we  are  making  special  efforts  "ii  the  inspection  and  con- 
.Uinnatiun  part  of  the  business.     We  have  nia.le  .-vor  l".."'")  in- 
spections  this   vear.      I    have   made   a   specialty   of  condemning 
hnildings  and  f  believe  in  the  ..id  saying.  "An  ounce  of  prcven- 
ti.m  is  worth  a  pound  of  <  ure."     It  is  all  right  to  make  an  in- 
vestigatitm  and  ru.i  down  a  crimin.i       We  will  d..  that  a",  much 
as  wc  have  occasion  to.     We  have  one  case  now  where  there  is 
i,(.  question  of  the  fire  being  planted  and  wt-  V'W  follow  it  to 
the  limit,  but  our  main  push  is  going  to  be  on   Jie  inspection. 
Ihe  it.>i.ectors  that   I  have  got  out  have  the  reputation  already 
of  being  digger.-.,  tluy  .l-n't  stop  at  anything  they  find  wrong. 
Thev  kick,  and  I  want  them  to  kick.     » )n(        ui  reported  inspect- 
in-  ii  liverv  barn--if  course  livery  barns  nuw  are  mostly  out  of 
existence,  "but  tni^  t"wn  bad  a  livery  barn— where  a  wire  came 
in  just  above  the  driveway  and  ran  along  the  attic  to  the  joist, 
of  curse,  with  little  staples,      id  it  was  tiie  ordinary  common 
bedroom  drop  cord  vou  find  mi  a  country  town  hotel.     It  wasn't 
of   sufficient   size   and   had   not  been   insulated   properly.     We 
.ire  up  againsi  thousands  of  propositions  of  that  kind  all  the 
time  and  it  is  a  credit  to  the  inspectors  that  we  never  ga  any- 
thing we  don't  kick  over.    We  came  into  the  world  kicking  and 
I  expect  we  will  go  out  kicking.     I  want  our  men  to  kick  until 
we  have  a  bigger,  brighter  and  better  system,  and  I  am  going  to 
hit  the  high  spots  to  the  limit  of  our  funds  and  our  ability. 

President  Fleming:  We  are  very  giad  indeed  to  have  this 
message  from  Brotl  er  Beach.  We  have  never  heard  very  nuch 
from  Xebra.-ka  and  we  are  very  much  delighted  with  this  s- 
sage  this  morning.  Now  I  am  verv  much  pleased  at  this  tn  to 
present  to  the  convention  one  of  our  newest  members,  oi.e  of 
those  men  who  has  been  alive  and  enthusiastic,  although  only 
on  the  job  a  short  time.  The  subject  which  is  assigned  to  him 
is  "Pep  in  I'erpetual  Progress."  Now  he  did  not  pick  this  sub- 
ject. I  did.  After  he  had  spent  a  little  time  with  me  in  the 
Columbus  office,  after  seeing  his  vision  and  realizing  what 
he  was  planning  to  do  in  the  state  of  Tennessee.  I  couldn't  help 
but  realize  that  this  topic  was  applicable.  So  1  am  very  glad  in- 
deed this  morning  to  call  upon  him— Walter  P..  Bell.  Fire  Pre- 
vention Commissioner,  Tennessee. 

PEP  IN  PERPETUAL  PROGRESS. 

Mr.  Bell:  Mr.  Chairman  and  co-workers:  As  you  gentle- 
men all  know  and  realize,  we  have  been  doing  a  great  deal  of 
going  around  since  we  have  been  here.     That  a.one  would  al- 

191 


«.  .  report  .his  mor    ';"'  l^ZiTlT'l"  '""^     '  '"  ■" 
her,  perpetually.    I  hope  „„"  "'^    '  "''  I"  """J'  ^e 

be  iztzti::jrfj'  r-  '7  ■ '-  -- '  ^^»" 

f«I  privilege  and  great  plel„'  '  f°  "■'^'  """^  '"«  "-""le'- 
-eeting  „,  Rre  ^Llt'^ZVrl  Pr^en  ,"„'  c"  ""  """"' 
of  North  America.  prevention  Commissioners 

and  ^^::^:srs;,ow^^ir^"4;^Y  -  t'-"-^  «^  ^--• 

Now  it  is  my  p^.pose  To  "fll  ou  wtai  d  To  '''  '"''  '''''■' 
statement  is  true.    Recently  t'^oH  TiT^L  P'"''^  ^^  >'°"  ^y 

Prevention  Commis^,,oner  ^/t  ''°""'  °^  ''^'"^  '"^d-  Fire 

the  Dth  of  June  oir  -ear  ^""'''-.'"'''"^  "^  '^'  ^°^k  on 
this  office  /found  th  fiel  IsVhite  TT'J  "''°"  ^'^  ^"^'^^  «f 
being  so  great  I  at  once  t  ^aT  ^  ..r  '"'"'  ^"'  ^'^^  "^^^ 
pass  in  order  to  be  able  to  dfr.  .  ^  ^^'^^  °"*  ^°'-  ^  ^o'^- 

accomphsli  the  greate  gooi  fn  th"  ""^  '"  "^'^  ^  -^>'  ^^  ^° 
least  amount  of'lost  I't^n  "o  sibir't^H '-'"^  T'  "'^'^  *'- 

office  in  Ohio         a  rls  re   Ve  ''  °'  *''  ^''"^  '^^^^'^^'''^ 

other  departments  tC^:^rs::,;L:!:?:rmf "  ^°  " 

Flem'inrwhoVared  t 'T  "  '^  '^"  ^"^'  ^^  ^"^^^  't  was 
on  you^nd^f  ;:„  have'to"sSr'rJ''r''^  '^  ^'"^'"^  P-"  ■" 
who  suggested  ^Tep  in^VeVetuaT  ^tgresT'"  ''''■     ''  ''^  '^ 

«ne  myself  to  fire  p^'e'iu ion        "  ^"'  ''^  '^°^^^'     ^  ^''^"  -"" 

first  thing  I  did  Lf to"     l?'"""'""*^''  °'  '''^""^^■''^^-   ^^e 

oT>r-r;rrin^^^^ 

o-e  o,  „,  grLeVLo..:-  ^.to^r^rV^.-lt^^ 

192 


.4 


your  plan."  In  doing  so  somehow  or  somehow  else,  you  may 
call  it  mental  telepathy  or  whatever  you  choose,  but  by  sug- 
gestion  or  otherwise  have  your  man  do  what  you  want  done  and 
let  hmi  do  it  as  if  it  was  his  own  original  idea  or  plan,  but  still 


'Pep  in  Perpetual  Pro- 


control  the  situation  and  see  to  it  that 
.yress"  brings  desired  results. 

In  my  opinion  the  publicity  man  is  the  chap  who  can  be 
of  very  great  service,  for  it  is  through  him  you  must  reach  the 
public  from  every  standpoint,  and  two  in  particular:  First,  in 
creating  favorable  public  sentiment  in  our  work,  if  we  are  to  get 
the  general  support  of  the  public,  and  without  this  we  will  not  get 
away  from  the  home  plate,  but  will  be  put  out  by  the  umpire 
(Public  Sentiment),  and  in  the  second  place  it  is  the  publicity 
man  who  can  give  us  the  greatest  service  in  creating  a  demand 
for  proper  co-operation  and  to  have  this  we  must  have  proper 
organization,  and  it  is  my  plan  down  in  Tennessee  to  have  ev- 
ery fellow  in  our  department  to  be  made  to  know,  feel  and  re- 
alize that  the  success  of  our  work  must  rest  alike  on  their  shoul- 
ders as  well  as  mine. 

We  are  attempting  to  pull  off  the  stunt  of  cooperation  with 
the  other  state  departments  and  to  this  end  upon  my  call  we 
had  the  heads  of  the  departments  meet  in  the  Fire  Prevention 
department  office  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  an  organiza- 
tion for  better  co-operation,  and  I  was  made  Chairman  of  our 
State  Co-operative  Club.  I  trust  you  will  pardon  me  for  tell- 
ing you  of  this,  for  I  can  assure  you  it  was  not  for  personal  ad- 
vertisement or  personal  publicity,  but  mv  plan  was  to  get  twen- 
ty-nine other  state  departments  working  for  me.  We  have  thirty 
departments  and  I  go  upon  the  theory  that  I  had  rather  have 
ten  men  working  for  me  than  to  undertake  to  do  the  work  of 
ten  men. 

You  canno:  succeed  without  proper  organization  and  I  plan 
to  have  each  branch  of  the  work  in  mv  d-partment  under  direct 
charge  of  someone  and  hold  them  responsible  for  results  and 
to  impress  each  head  of  the  department  to  have  some  original- 
ity and  initiative  upon  the  particular  part  of  the  work  in^heir 
charge.  To  this  end  I  have  on  two  occasions  since  I  have  been 
in  office  had  all  my  men  come  to  Nashville  and  held  a  two  day 
session  of  instruction  which  I  had  previously  planned  out  such 
as  instructive  talks  from  Captain  of  Fire  department,  Manager 
of  Inspection  bureau,  and  Insurance  Commissioner,  and  a  num- 
ber of  special  agents,  and  a  practical  demonstration  by  an  ex- 
perienced fireman  with  the  fire  extinguisher. 

193 


The  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  is  giving  me  the 
services  of  his  department  in  assisting  in  placing  a  "Fire  Pre- 
vention Manual  for  School  Children  of  America"  in  every  school 
in  Tennessee.  He  is  also  assisting  me  with  the  distribution  of 
the  school  questionnaire  which  will  be  sent  to  every  child  in 
every  school  in  Tennessee. 

I  am  having  our  department  issue  a  monthlv  bulletin  \ 
copy  of  same  will  be  mailed  each  of  your  departments. 

In  my  opinion,  the  only  way  to  put  'Tep  in  Perpetual  Pro- 
JJrress  IS  to  believe  in  3-our  work  and  continually  keep  your  work 
well  ,n  hand  and  be  .so  enthusiastic  that  each  and  overy  one  vou 
meet  or  come  in  contact  with  will  catch  your  .spirit  of  co-oper- 
ation, efficient  co-operation. 

Suppo.se  we  draw  upon  our  imagination  fur  an  illustration. 
\ou  no  doubt  have  had  people  tdl  you  in  detail  about  some  thing 
a^d  you  would  find  your  mind  drawing  a  picture  of  the  sub- 
ject  under  discussion. 

There  is  nothing  more  perfect  than  a  complete  circle  and 
I  am  going  to  ask  you  to  draw  upon  your  imagination  a  high- 
way and  name  it  progress;  and.  if  you  will,  let's  call  the  circle 
a  wheel  and  name  the  hub  of  the  wheel  Pep  and  each  spoke  of 
the  wheel  to  represent  what  I  choose  to  call  Perpetual,  and  in 
-so  doing  If  we  can  persistently  push  this  wheel  with  a  hub  of 
Pep  made  of  Perpetual  spokes  upon  the  upward  grade  of  Pro- 
gress, we  m\l  succeed  and  our  results  will  be  O.  K.  and  we  will 
go  onward  and  upward. 

ONWARD  AND  UPWARD. 

Keep  striving:  the  win^ners  are  those  vvlio  have  striven 
And  fought  for  the  price  that  no  idler  has  won- 

T  o  the  hands  of  the  steadfast  alone  it  is  given 
And  before  it  is  gained,  there  is  work  to  be  done. 

Keep  climbing:  the  earnest  and  steadfast  have  scaled 
The  height  where  the  pathway  was  rough  to  the  feet: 

Hut  the  faint-hearted  faltered,  and  faltering,  failed 
And  sank  down  by  the  wayside  in  helpless  defeat. 

Keep  hoping:  the  clouds  hide  the  sun  for  a  time 

But  the  sooner  or  later  they  scatter  and  flee 
And  the  path  glows  like  gold  to  the  toilers  who  climb 

lo  the  heights  where  men  look  over  landscape  and  sea. 

194 


Keep  onward — right  on,  till  the  prize  is  attained: 
Front  the  future  with  courage,  and  obstacles  fall. 

By  those,  and  those  only,  the  victory's  gained 

Who  keep  faith  in  themselves  and  in  Cod  over  all. 


A 


Fiefore  1  close,  I  want  to  apologize  to  you  for  the  appear- 
ance of  this  bulletin,  because  it  is  the  first  that  has  ever  been  is- 
sued by  the  department.  I  have  a  number  of  them  here  and  I 
will  be  very  glad  to  give  each  of  you  a  copy,  and  when  you  get 
home  I  wish  you  would  sit  down  and  analyze  it  and  write 
ine  a  letter.  I  want  your  honest  opinion,  because  there  is  no 
chain  stronger  than  the  weakest  link,  and  if  we  are  going  to  suc- 
ceed we  must  stand  together.  Co-operation  is  the  watchword 
and  what  I  am  after  is  results. 

President  Fleming :  I  am  very  glad  indeed  that  we  have  had 
an  opportunity  of  getting  in  touch  with  Mr.  Bell's  pep.  It  im- 
pressed me.  There  isn't  any  possibility  of  the  world  becoming 
enriched  by  your  power  until  you  have  become  the  master  of 
your  subject,  .so  that  you  are  able  to  impart  it  with  ease  and  con- 
viction. My  notion  is — and  I  know  you  know  this  same  thing 
to  be  true  in  your  states — that  you  cannot  send  a  man  out  to  do 
work  until  he  knows  what  he  is  going  to  do.  The  old  idea  of 
appointing  a  man  by  politics  and  sending  him  out  to  make  an 
inspection  is  a  hindrance  to  our  work,  because  the  people  who 
are  on  the  job  know  more  about  the  inspection  than  the  man 
who  makes  it.  Now  when  we  appoint  a  man  to  a  position  in 
our  department,  we  never  allow  him  to  go  out  until  he  is  brought 
in  the  office  and  given  a  definite  course  of  instruction,  not  only 
by  word  of  mouth,  but  by  actual  work  along  all  our  lines  with 
one  of  our  best  men.  I  have  had  the  great  pleasure  of  training 
some  of  the  railroad  inspectors  for  the  different  railroads  in  the 
state  of  Ohio  and  the  adjoining  states.  They  have  come  to  our 
department  and  asked  if  we  could  give  them  special  training 
nlong  the  line  of  work  that  they  will  have  to  do  as  fire  preven- 
tion engineers  for  their  different  railroads  and  that  is  what  I 
have  done.  I  am  taking  a  little  time,  gentlemen,  if  you  will 
pardon  me.  I  put  those  men  out  with  the  best  man  I  have  on 
building  construction.  I  have  them  go  over  many  buildings  and 
have  our  man  show  the  new  man  exactly  what  ought  to  be  cor- 
rected and  what  he  ought  to  look  for  in  that  building  construc- 
tion— as  to  what  the  roof  ought  to  be  and  what  protection  a 
warehouse  should  have  inside  and  outside.  Then  I  put  him  with 
the  very  best  inspector  I  have  along  the  line  of  electricity.     I 

195 


'   t 


5     ,  • 


with  h.m.     Now  I  put  h.m  m  with  the  electrician,  and  I  have 
h.m    go    mto    every    electrical    condition,    what    to    look    fo. 

suppW     ir    :r''-    ^'^"    ^'"^    '    >'"'  "^^  -i"^  the  water 
supply     man      the     water     mam     man,     to     understand     how 

a    Pl"g    ought    to    be    and    what    kind    of    main    thev    ought 
o   have    so  that   he  can   investigate  that.     And   then    I    have 
Intn  nght  back  ,n  the  office  and  go  into  a  verv  definite  discus- 
sion and  take  plenty  of  time  for  it.     After  wJ  have  done  that. 

he  rrts"  "T''  T"''  "'''■  '"  ^°  ""^  '-'"^  -^t-t  -"^I^-    When 
ht  starts  work  and  gets  into  actual  practice,  he  is  going  to  run 

.nto  all  knuls  of  propositions.  When  you  are  filk-d  wi  he 
pep  of  perpetual  progress."  let  me  say  to  you  there  is  going  to 
be  something  domg  all  along  the  line.  Your  men  are  |oing  to 
get  on.  Enthusiasm  is  catching,  and  when  vou  get  it  and 
ransmit  ,t  to  the  furthest  end  of  the  line  vou  are  going  to  get 
results.  I  find  out  if  I  am  twenty-five  minutes  late!n  tife  ofHce 
Lt  daT"'""  ^'^  ''''  "^  '''  '"^"  ^^^  ^-^"^^-^■-  -'-tef  ll 

paner 'Trr^^''  "^-^^  ^\^'"''  ''  '^''  ^''''  ""^  ^"^  discuss  this 
paper.  Mr.  Lewis  is  no.  here,  so  I  will  pass  this  subject  and  we 
can  have  it  when  he  comes  in. 

We  will  pass  to  the  next  point,  which  will  be  the  Round  Ta- 
rn nur'T'  7  '''r  '"""'^  '"  ^">'  ^P^^^h  more  than  five 
"n  this      I  "   '  "-'erstand  why.     We  want  everybody  in 

on  this  I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Ralph  E.  Richman.  Editor  of 
^Fire  Protection.-  to  take  charge  of  the  Round  Tai>le  d^us- 

ROUND  TABLE  DISCUSSION. 

sionl';r^f'"'"'     Gentlemen.  I  am  going  to  turn  the  discus- 

Tv    and  .h  f°l'  "t      "?  ^""^  '°  ''y  *°  ^°  ''  ^he  President 
^ays  and  abide  by  the  rules.     I  will  call  vour  name  and  if  yot- 

have  somthing  on  a  subject  to  present  to  the  delegates  I  will  be 

glad  to  hear  ,t.     I  think  possibly  we  might  complete    he  1  itle 

nformal  discussion  we  started  this  morning  before'all  wer    he 

ubmiued  t   -^  '""^t"'  '"  •'^^°"P  ^^  '^"^^^'^^"^'  -hich  have  be"," 
submitted  to  us  in  the  question  box:    "Are  the  present  methods 
of  shutting  off  cty  gas  supplies  in  emergencies  adequate"    Thi 
.ncludes  reliability,  ease  of  location  in  any  season  of  t^ie  yea 
leakage,  etc.    etc."    To  begin  this  discussion  I  am  going  to  ask 
Mr   Lewis  of  Massac!,n.etts  what  he  might  wish  to ^say  thereon 

196 


ARE  PRESENT  METHODS  OF  SHUTTING  OFF  GAS  IN 
EMERGENCIES  ADEQUATE? 

Mr.  Frank  Lewis:  In  the  city  of  Boston  on  every  alarm, 
the  gas  company  respond  with  the  apparatus  to  the  fire  immedi- 
ately. They  attend  to  shutting  off  the  gas.  They  are  practi- 
cally the  fir.st  people  to  enter  the  building.  Very  often  they  are 
in  the  building  before  the  Fire  department  arrives  and  the  gas 
is  shut  off  in  that  building  before  they  arrive.  The  same  is 
true  in  case  of  any  trouble  in  the  gas  mains  in  Boston,  where 
there  is  a  leakage  or  anything  of  that  kind.  The  Police  depart- 
ment notify  the  gas  company  and  their  apparatus  as  a  rule  is 
the  first  upon  the  scene. 

Mr.  Richman:    Do  they  attend  all  alarms? 

Mr.  Lewis:  All  alarms. 

Mr.  Richman:  Tor  instance,  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati  they 
don't  attend  all  alarms. 

Mr.  Lewis:    They  attend  all  alarms  in  *he  city  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Richman:  Do  they  have  any  difficulty  in  turning  off 
the  gas? 

Mr.  Lewis:  A  m.an  lost  his  life  in  Boston  about  nine  months 
ago.  It  wa.s  only  a  very  sm-.M  fire,  a  smoke  or  water  loss,  but 
he  got  in  the  basement  and  couldn't  get  out. 

Mr.  Richman:    Did  he  go  down  in  the  basement? 

Mr.  Lewis:  He  went  down  in  the  basement  and  lost  his 
life.  That  is  the  only  experience  we  have  had,  as  near  as  I  can 
ronu-mber.  He  had  arrived  there  before  the  l-'ire  department 
and  they  didn't  know  he  was  there. 

Chief  Philip:  I  would  say,  as  far  as  Illinois  is  concerned, 
I  don't  believe  such  things  are  adequate  at  all.  We  had 
a  fire  not  ve.y  long  ago.  We  find  as  a  rule  gas  company  em- 
ployes will  turn  out  to  a  fire  of  very  large  proportions,  but  our 
experience  has  been  they  are  never  there  when  we  want  them. 
They  never  know  where  the  shut-off  is,  or  don't  have  the  key, 
or  something  of  that  kind.  At  this  fire  which  I  speak  of,  which 
was  threatening  the  down-town  district,  we  ordered  the  gas  shut 
off,  l)ut  we  couldn't  find  an  employe  to  do  so,  and  when  we  did 
find  him,  he  couldn't  find  the  valve  in  the  vicinity  to  do  it  and 
he  struck  away  off  and  shut  off  the  whole  section  before  he 
could  get  this  particular  building  shut  off.  My  impression  is 
that  a  state  law  should  be  passed,  providing  for  either  the  au- 
tomatic gas  shut-off,  or  at  least  one  that  would  be  available  from 
the  outside  of  the  building. 

197 


Mr.  Richman:  Some  of  the  firemen,  in  talking  of  this  p; 
ticular  matter,  have  stated  that  they  considered  one  of  the  mc 
desirable  points  of  the  automatic  gas  shut-off  valve  was  that 
could  not  be  turned  off  until  they  went  down  in  the  bas'eme 
and  unlocked  the  apparatus  to  get  at  it. 

Chief  Philip:  That  might  be  a  good  plan,  but  in  my  es 
niation  the  better  plan  would  be  for  the  shut-off  to  be  on  t 
outside  of  the  building,  so  that  it  would  be  available  under  ai 
circumstances. 

Mr.  Richman :  Well,  the  shut-off  fixed  so  that  the  gas  wou 
not  be  available. 

Chief  Philip :  I  would  .say  that  as  long  as  the  firemen  we 
on  the  ground  no  one  would  be  likely  to  turn  it  off,  and  in  ar 
event  the  gas  company  employes  would  be  practically  in  charj 
and  they  could  turn  it  off. 

Mr.  Gamber:  .Along  the  line  of  what  Firother  Thilip  h; 
said,  we  have  no  jv.risdiction,  possibly,  outside  of  issuing  an  o 
der  on  the  gis  companies,  the  same  as  on  the  electrical  con 
panies  supplying  power,  and  we  say  that  an  outside  shut-o 
must  be  provided  under  the  rules  and  regulations  of  our  di 
partment. 

Mr.  Richman :  You  make  an  order  to  apply  to  the  gas  con 
panies? 

Mr.  Gamber:  Yes,  sir,  that  they  must  install  it  on  amy  nci 
work,  and  must  install  outside  shut-offs  on  work  already  ir 
stalled. 

Mr.  Richman:  Now  has  anyone  else  anything  to  say?  I 
seems  to  be  the  consensus  of  those  who  have  expressed  an  opin 
ion  that  the  present  methods  of  gas  shut-offs  are  not  reliable  an- 
are  dangerous.  .XOw  the  next  question  is,  "Should  any  provi 
sion  for  automatic  operation  be  generally  made  for  he  auto 
matic  shut-otf  of  gas?"  We  had  a  little  discussion  on  that  thi 
morning.  Has  anyone  anything  to  say  on  that?  Mr.  Banash 
would  you  just  explain  in  a  very  few  words  what  that  means? 

SHOULD   PROVISION  FOR  AUTOMATIC  OPERATIOh 
OF  GAS  SHUT-OFFS  BE  MADE? 

Mr.  Banash:  Well,  the  Underwriters'  Laboratories  approvt 
a  number  of  types  of  gas  valve  and  I  think  we  can  safely  saj 
that  the  engineering  feature  of  any  gas  valve  that  they  approvt 
will  be  entirely  satisfactory.  .\s  I  explained  this  morning,  pari 
of  the  service  is  a  piece  of  machinery  that  will  operate  in  tht 

198 


main  in  the  ca^c  of  the  automatic  operation  failing,  so  tliat  if 
there  was  fire  down  around  it  it  would  form  a  little  crystal.  ( Jn 
the  other  hand,  they  arc  not  very  set  about  the  automatic  fea- 
ture and  I  think  only  allow  it  in  on  account  of  the  manufactur- 
ers. For  my  part,  1  think  in  any  city  where  there  is  a  Fire  de- 
partment they  will  {jet  to  a  fire  in  plenty  of  time  for  the  I- ire 
Chief  to  cut  the  gas  off.  Now  we  must  consider  the  life  hazard 
in  cutting  gas  off  a  building  prematurely.  Gas  cut  from  a  build- 
ing, in  the  case  of  an  automatic  operator,  would  leave  that  biiild- 
mrr  in  darkness,  ai  d  therefore  might  lose  time.  The  Fire  Chiefs 
lia.l  a  meeting  in  this  subject  and  the  consensus  of  opinion  was 
that  in  the  small  cities  gas  shut-offs  were  hardly  adequate  and 
they  did  not  want  anything  unless  it  were  .something  which 
would  permit  them  to  shut  off  the  gas  when  they  wanted  to  and 
not  before  I  am  not  endeavoring  to  express  an  opinion;  1  am 
trying  to  draw  out  unprejudiced  opinions.  I  understand  the  au- 
tomatic is  not  satisfactory,  because  there  is  .so  much  surface  gas 
in  the  plug  cock  and  in  the  winter,  if  it  is  tightened  up,  it  can- 
not be  operated  or  is  difficult  to  operate,  and  sometimes  diffi- 
cult to  find. 

Mr.  Haggerty:  We  have  a  city  .system  similar  to  the  sys- 
tem in  IJoston,  where  the  .'  -s  company  man  enters  all  alone, 
but  I  think  that  the  gas  company  should  work  in  with  the  Chief 
rf  the  Fire  department.  I  know  of  a  case  in  New  Orleans  where 
they  ran  into  a  burning  building.  Tlie  fire  was  on  the  third 
floor.  They  took  the  meter  out  and  did  not  entirely  shut  off 
the  gas.  As  a  consequence  gas  accumulated  in  the  house.  Some 
burning  clothing  was  thrown  from  the  galleries  of  the  third 
floor  down  to  the  alleyway  and  ignited  the  gas  in  the  house, 
which  caused  an  explosion.  Fortunately  no  one  was  hurt.  So  I 
believe  that  nothing  should  be  done  in  a  burning  building  by 
the  gas  company  without  the  direction  of  the  Fire  Chief,  who 
should  be  in  charge  of  any  burning  building. 

Mr.  Richman:  That,  I  think,  seems  to  be  the  consensus  of 
opinion,  that  the  Fire  Chief  should  be  in  charge  of  a  burning 
building.  Now  does  anyone  else  here  wish  to  say  anything  on 
this  point?  If  not,  we  will  take  up  some  of  the  other  questions. 
We  were  listening  the  other  day  to  a  paper  by  Mr.  Frank  Lewis 
on  Fire  and  Accident  Prevention  Day  and  the  President  gave 
it  as  his  opinion  that  there  should  be  a  separate  and  distinct  cel- 
ebration of  Fire  Preventirm  D.nv  Now  what  is  the  opinion  of 
you  gentlemen  on  that?  Mr.  Friedley,  what  do  you  think  of 
that,  whether  there  should  be  union  or  separation? 

199 


SHOULD  FIRE  AND  ACCIDENT  PREVENTION  DAY 

SEPARATED? 

Mr.  Friedley:     My  impression  first  of  all  is  that  it  she 
)e  nrc  prevention  alone,     i  tliink  it  would  be  more  apt  to  h 
better  attention  than  if  we  divided  (.ur  efforts.     I  think  our 
forts  should  be  devoted  entirely  to  fire  prevention  on  the 
of  October. 

Mr.  Richman:    Mr.  Hrown.  have  you  considered  this  at 

Mr.  Brown:    1  have  not  considered  ii     t  all. 

Mr.  Richman:    Mr.  f  loran,  what  do  vou  think  of  it?    Sho 

we  have  separate  or  joint  celebration  of  Fire  and  Accident  F 

vention  Day? 

Mr.  Horan:     I  rather  agree  with  Mr.   Friedley  in  that 
spect  that  there  would  be  a  division  of  our  energies  and  we  wo 
not  get  as  great  publicity  along  our  particular  line  or  at  least 
that  in  wr.ch  we  are  interested,  as  we  would  if  it  was  separj 
Let  us  have  Fire  Prevention  Day  alone. 
Mr.  Richman:    Mr.  Van  Camp? 

Mr.  Van  Camp:  Well,  I  agree  absolutely  with  the  gent 
man  from  Massachuretts.  I  think  we  should  have  a  Fire  P 
vention  Day  separately;  that  :s  my  judgment.  It  is  a  I 
;nougfh  subject  so  that  the  wh>  -  day  could  be  well  devoted 
fire  prevention.  I  am  in  sympathy  with  the  accident  preve 
tion  branch  all  right,  but  I  think  October  !)th,  should  be  t 
national  Fire  Prevention  Day. 

Mr.  Richman:  Does  anyone  else  wish  to  say  anything? 
Mr.  Banash:  I  think  it  is  always  desirable  to  have  son- 
one  say  something  on  the  other  side,  if  it  is  only  to  start  an  i 
gument.  I  had  occasion  to  mention  this  very  same  point  la 
May  at  the  N.  F.  P.  A.,  when  it  was  suggested  that  we  dra 
resolutions  with  the  National  Safety  Council  so  that  we  cou 
concentrate  and  it  looks  like  an  awfully  good  thing  on  the  fa 
of  it.  But  we  have  to  consider  a  lot  of  other  conditions  and 
think  the  main  thing  to  consider  in  anything  like  this  is  the  vei 
little  detail  of  expediency.  It  is  just  like  winning  a  war,  figh 
ing  a  battle,  or  reducing  the  high  cost  of  living.  The  que.stic 
IS,  are  you  going  to  get  more  out  of  it  than  you  put  into  v 
Personally  I  don't  think  the  time  is  ripe,  and  may  not  be  f( 
four  cr  five  years,  to  separate  these  two  movements  and  I  wi 
try  to  explain  how  my  views  run  on  this  subject. 

In  the  first  place  you  will  notice  there  were  several  papers- 
Mr.  Van  Camp's  paper,  and  one  or  two  others,  and  Mr.  Malh 

200 


N  DAY  BE 

it  it  should 
apt  to  have 
link  our  ef- 
on  the  9th 

this  at  all? 

it?  Should 
cident  Pre- 

in  that  re- 

1  we  would 

at  least  in 

s  separate. 


the  gentle- 
Fire  Pre- 
is  a  big 
devoted  to 
tit  preven- 
ild  be  the 

;hing? 
ave  some- 
tart  an  ar- 
point  last 
we  draw 
we  could 
1  the  face 
ons  and  I 
3  the  very 
/ar,  fight- 
question 
t  into  it? 
ot  be  for 
nd  I  will 


papers — 
r.  Malla- 


lieu"s  paper— ill  which  the  fire  hazard  and  life  hazard  were  put 
together.  Furthermore  the  life  hazard  is  the  biggest  thing  in 
l)ubi.city.  It  IS  a  nice  thing  for  a  man  to  see  a  fire,  and  he  likes 
to  see  a  fire  on  another  man's  property,  but  he  doesn't  like  to 
kill  anybody.  Now  when  we  say  "prote.-tion  to  life  and  prop- 
erty" we  get  the  j)ul)lic  eye.  We  must  ulmit  the  Safety  people 
have  got  sumc  darned  good  advertising  j)eople  with  thein  and 
in  co-operating  with  them  we  get  the  benefit  of  that. 

Now  it  was  found  in  some  other  work  1  am  connected  with 
that  the  c()mi)inatinn  movement  would  work  out  something  like 
this:  We  have  got  to  concede,  where  there  is  a  local  movement 
of  fire  and  accident,  if  the  accident  man  happens  to  be  a  stronger 
man  than  the  fire  prevention  man,  the  accident  celebration  would 
be  a  little  more  noticed  than  the  fire,  and  if  he  was  a  stronger 
tire  prevention  man  it  would  be  the  other  wav.  Furthermore, 
since  we  have  a  department  called  the  Co-operative  Keseanli' 
rousing  the  manufacturers  to  have  research  made  on  basic  prob- 
lems from  which  they  can  develop  things  to  compete  with  each 
other,  in  view  of  that  sort  of  co-operation  it  does  not  seem  right, 
just  after  the  war.  that  we  should  withdraw  the  co-operation  of 
the  other  interests  at  this  time. 

N'ow  there  is  one  other  point  which  is  a  slightly  commer- 
cial one  that  I  would  like  to  bring  before  this  body. '  With  the 
present  agitation  in  labor,  the  demand  for  shorter  hours,  and  the 
need  for  taking  time  for  such  celebrations— you  may  say  it 
doesn't  take  any  time,  but  it  is  going  to  take  an  hour  from  ev- 
( ry  factory  in  this  country,  and  probably  two  hours  if  they  do 
It  right— if  you  split  them  up  you  are  doubling  that  burden  on 
the  manufacturer,  who  certainly  has  enough  to  contend  with. 
and  he  will  not  pretend  to  give  his  support.  The  tendency  will 
be  to  cut  off  just  so  much  and  my  personal  opinion  is  that  we 
ought  to  wait  two  or  three  or  four  years  and  then  decide  on 
this  .somewhat  important,  although  not  seemingly  so.  subject 
being  split  up.  I  am  not  speaking  officially;  I  am  giving  a  per- 
sonal opinion. 

Mr.  Richman:  Is  there  anyone  in  the  room  who  has  ever 
been  chairman  of  a  local  committee  working  up  a  celebration  of 
this  kind? 

Mr.  Frank  Lewis:  I  disagree  with  Mr.  Banash.  I  think 
instead  of  concentration,  it  is  a  division  of  forces.  For  instance, 
in  the  east  we  have  Fire  Prevention  Day  under  the  jurisdiction 
ryi  people  who  are  in  charge  of  those  things,  the  Fire  depart- 

201 


iii 


ment  in  the  city,  ainl  under  the  auspices  of  a  personal  com- 
mittee. In  that  city  there  is  no  one  who  has  charge  oi  any  or 
ganization  for  accidents  in  factories,  We  usually  speak  of  lift 
and  property  damage  when  we  speak  of  that.  So  far  as  fire  pre 
vention  is  concerned,  we  never  mean  the  loss  of  life.  It  Is  not 
in  our  line  of  work  to  taV  c  care  of  accidents.  You  will  find  ir 
."^lassachusetts  places  where  accident  prevention  is  taught  anr 
enforced  in  the  factories  and  where  fire  prevention  does  n-)t  en 
ter  at  all,  or  only  to  a  very  small  extent.  For  instance,  take  th» 
^reat  big  steel  mills  in  the  cast,  and  mills  of  that  character 
.■>"mi-fireproof  construction,  where  there  isn't  any  wood  or  othei 
in.  /iT"r.iable  materia',  used.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  get  a  firt 
if  any  kind  in  tliese  buildings  and  in  those  phces  accident  pre- 
vention is  enforced  and  placed  in  the  front  at  he  expense,  per 
haps,  of  fire  prevention.  Xow  why  should  we,  whose  time  is  ta 
ken  up  in  fire  prevention,  have  a  great  many  other  duties  pui 
upon  us  in  a  factory  of  that  kind  and  spend  the  money  of  tlu 
state  to  teach  accident  prevention,  when  we  can  go  to  othei 
places  throughout  the  sta:e  and  do  things  so  far  as  our  o^fn  par 
ticular  job  is  concerned.  The  ordinary  man  trained  in  i.re  pre 
vention  has  not  any  particular  knowledge  in  accident  prevention 
You  are  dividing  your  forces  instead  of  co-operating;  >ou  art 
boosting  the  other  game.  If  there  is  a  certain  crowd  of  mei 
who  are  trained  in  accident  prevention,  those  are  the  men  vvh( 
should  devote  t'  ir  time  to  it.  and  the  mar;  who  is  trained  in  an 
other  line  should  not  take  away  his  efforts  to  boost  anothei 
thing  of  whi  h  he  has  not  any  particular  knowledge. 

And  the  minute  you  tie  these  two  things  together  you  gel 
the  commercial  aspect,  and  the  minute  you  put  the  commercia 
aspect  into  that  movement  you  are  going  to  lose  strength.  Xow 
for  riistance,  in  Boston,  for  four  or  five  years  we  had  a  very  sue 
cessful  Clean-up.  Three  or  four  years  ago  they  tied  up  Clean-uf 
and  Paint-up.  The  Secretary  of  the  Clean-up  branch  was  th( 
Secretary  of  a  paint  corporation  and  we  got  absolutely  no  re 
suits.  The  year  before  last  I  went  into  that  thing  very  strongly 
I  spent  a  lot  of  money  putting  out  literature  regarding  Clean 
up  Week  entirely  on  fire  prevention,  but  the  people  became 
suspicious  when  tbey  heard  that  Cican-up  Day  was  tied  up  with 
Paint-up,  and  the  minute  you  tie  them  up  there  is  a  commercia! 
aspect.  It  is  an  anxious  proposition  from  beginning  to  end 
and  I  believe  fire  and  accident  prevention  should  not  be  tied 
up  if  you  want  the  best  results. 

Mr.  Kubasta:     That  viewpoint  is  well  taken,  where  the  ef 

202 


forts  of  fire  prevention  and  accident  prevention  are  broup.it  to 
the  public,  but  if  we  bring  it  in  under  one  division  or  one  super- 
vision there  is  one  other  aspect  to  be  taken  into  consideration. 
1  will  cite  Wisconsin.  We  had  so  many  inspections  that  the 
cities  got  tired  of  it.  We  had  food  inspectors,  dairy  inspectors, 
license  inspectors,  safety  inspectors,  fire  inspectors  until  they 
got  tired  seeing  a  man  come  round  wiih  a  badge  on.  So  our 
Safety  department  and  Fire  department  an  .ombined,  so  that 
when  a  man  goes  into  a  town  he  cleans  that  town  on  both  acci- 
dent and  safety.  In  our  state  we  are  in  favor  of  joining  action, 
because  the  men  are  trained  in  accident  and  in  the  service  and 
ill  the  pay  of  the  state.  For  instance,  a  man  will  go  into  a  retail 
property.  He  will  look  it  over  from  a  fire  prevention  stand- 
point and  inspect  the  fire  escapes  The  next  day  a  man  will 
jome  in  and  say,  "Your  hotel  is  not  in  proper  shape  for  sani- 
tary reasons" — that  is  the  health  inspector.  The  next  day  the 
safety  inspector  comes  along.  You  get  af^er  that  man  several 
times  in  the  same  week  and  you  know  how  he  feels  about  it — 
that  he  is  being  worktd  for  some  civil  service  job. 

Mr.  Richman:  Those  are  the  reasons  why  you  favor  a  joint 
celebration  m  your  state? 

Mr.  Kubasta:  That  is  the  reason  we  are  combined  in  Wis- 
consin, so  as  to  get  results  from  one  man,  and  we  get  more  re- 
sults in  one  year  than  we  otherwise  would. 

Mr.  Richman:  Then  the  p>o.sition  in  your  state  is  that  an 
i  ispection  of  factories  and  all  that  business  is  done  by  one  body, 
a  Safety  Commission? 

Mr.  Kubasta:  Yes,  and  we  find  we  get  far  'setter  results, 
more  window  displays — get  the  best  store  windows  in  town  and 
imt  posters  there  calling  attention  to  all  classes  of  accidents 
that  happen,  fires  that  occur,  the  cau.ses  for  them.  They  will 
keep  room  for  them  and  I  was  surprised — very  agreeably  sur- 
prised— at  the  number  of  people  who  would  stop  and  give  the 
matter  attention. 

Mr.  Richman:  I  tliiiik  it  seems  to  be  the  consensus  of  opin- 
ion among  the  Fire  Marshals  that  they  would  be  in  favor  of  a 
separate  celebration  of  Fire  Prevention  Day.  Of  course  there 
is  not  any  doubt  that  this  is  due  to  the  fact  that  this  is  your  par- 
ticular work  and  you  put  that  strongly  as  the  first  considera- 
tion. Is  there  anyone  else  who  wishes  to  say  anything  on  that 
subject? 

President  Fleming:    The  best  thing  we  had  Ic"-'  '^ong 

203 


that  line  of  accident  prevention  was  a  numstrous  sign  which 
was  placcil  oviT  oiu-  of  the  larjjt-st  huiUlinps  in  the  city  of  Co- 
lumbus on  the  evening  of  the  election.  First  they  would  flash 
the  returns  and  then  the  data  on  fire  and  accident  prevention 
In  Detroit.  I  was  in  front  of  the  Chimber  of  Commerce,  a  large 
hiiildiiip  llure.  'i'hey  iiad  a  inunsirous  sij^n  .-md  it  was  just 
fille<l  with  material  for  fire  and  accident  prevention.  I  think 
it  is  a  viry  excellent  thinp.     Keep  it  i^oing  all  the  time. 

Mr.  Richman:  That  is  a  ko^"'  suggesti'  >  *or  publicity  on 
fire  and  accident  prevention.     .Now  if  anyone  wishes  to  say 

anything  on  this  particular  suhjec*  we  will  hear  them;  if  not 
vvi  will  take  up  another  topic  which  came  up  during  our  dis- 
r     -ion  and  which  we  did  not  take  up  fully,  and  that  is  this: 

V  can  State  Fire  Marshals  obtain  and  develop  firemen  for 
work  "ith  the  Fire  departments  of  the  state?"  I  woi .1  like 
to  preface  that  with  this  brief  statement.  .\s  Mr,  I'hilip  said 
here  the  other  day.  and  of  course,  naturally,  we  in  our  business 
come  in  contract  with  Fi.j  Chiefs  and  recognize  the  same  thing, 
there  has  been  a  feeling  on  the  part  of  many  Fire  departments 
of  not  too  great  a  friendliness  to  some  of  the  Fire  Marshal  de- 
partments, and  I  want  to  tell  you  what  I  think  is  at  the  root  of 
some  of  that  feeling.  It  is  that  the  Fire  Marshal  is  always  ask- 
ing the  Fire  department  to  do  something  for  the  siate  and  they 
fee!  tiii-v  do  not  get  the  continuous  service  which  bears  strictly 
on  the  business  of  a  Fire  department,  as  they  see  it,  fire  ex- 
tinguisli  ent.  and  therefore  that  the  Marshal  should  put  first- 
class  mei  in  the  field  to  help  the  volunteer  men.  Now  if  ^  ou 
are  able  to  get  that  reciprocal  relationship  it  seems  to  me  it 
will  bring  success  to  you.  would  like  to  have  some  discus- 
sion on  thi>  point.  Is  there  any  Fire  Marshal  in  <hc  room  here 
who  has  at  this  tine  a  special  Fire  department  dej   ity? 

HOW  CAN   SPECIAL  FIRE  DEPARTMENT   DEPUTIES 
BE  SECURED  AND  DEVELOPED? 

Mr.  Beach:  I  would  not  say  that  we  had  a  special  deputy 
■of  that  kind,  hut  my  inspectors  are  all  ex-firemen.  I  have  one 
man  in  Omaha  who  devotes  his  whole  time  to  the  city  as  an 
inspector  for  the  government  in  the  shipbuilding  yards.  He  told 
me  he  got  more  drills  and  more  practical  experience  from  their 
drilling  constantly  every  day  in  actual  practice  in  the  employ  of 
the  government  than  he  had  in  nine  years  in  the  Omaha  Fire 
department.  I  was  mighty  glad  to  get  him  and  there  isn't  any- 
thing I  wouldn't  do  to  keep  a  man  like  that. 

204 


Mr.  Richman:  Sow,  Mr.  Mtadi,  docs  this  man  do  any  work 
with  the  \»>luntc»r  I'irc  (Upartinriits,  in  lu-lpinp  tlu-m  to  train 
their  nu-n.  or  K'vin^,'  them  instruction  in  liandlin-,'  apparatus  or 
the  use  of  liose,  or  things  of  tliat  kind  ? 

Mr.  Beach:  N'o.  In  the  city  wlnre  he  is  they  have  a  paid 
(kpartment.  I  have  two  other  men  outside  that  work  in  tiie 
>nialler  towns.  \ery  few  oi  the  towns  have  paid  department.**. 
A  pood  many  towns  have  no  iMre  dipartnunts  at  all— towns 
iiiuch  larjjiT  tlian  you  would  iniaj,'iiU' ;  tlu-v  would  sooner  j;u 
without  any  orjianization.  .My  men  don't  liav^  time  to  train 
and  instruct  firemen,  hut  they  are  workinjj  clo>eIy  in  connection 
with  tlie  volunteer  firemen  .iiid  in  every  town  the  first  man  they 
look  \X]y  is  the  Chief  of  the  i'irc  department,  and  he  is  the  last 
man  they  see  when  they  leave  the  town.  They  leave  with  him 
every  order  issued  in  that  town,  and  he  sees  that  the  orders  are 
af)plied. 

Mr.  Richman:  Xow  takiujjf  up  the  other  p  lint  of  haxinj; 
lire  department  men — take  the  extinjjuishment  problems — I 
would  like  to  hear  .Mr.  Friedley. 

Mr.  Friedley:  It  occurred  to  me  about  six  months  aero  that 
1  oupht  to  have  connected  with  my  department  an  experienced 
fireman  that  would  travel  about  through  the  state  and  live 
with  the  Fire  departments.  I  am  guinfj  to  put  a  man  on,  if  I 
can  find  a  goo<l  man.  1  am  going  to  put  him  on  the  first  of  ( )c- 
tohcr  and  will  make  an  experiment  by  putting  him  out  with  the 
firemen.  I  don't  care  wnether  he  has  the  title  of  engineer  or  not. 
but  I  want  to  get  a  man  who  knows  everything  about  u  lat  fire 
equipment  there  should  be  in  a  town.  With  his  experience  as  a 
fireman.  I  think  his  work  would  tend  to  upbuild  the  morale  of 
the  Fire  dei)ariments.  I  want  him  to  go  to  a  town  and  stRV 
there  until  he  gets  the  Tire  department  into  good  condition. 
Xow  my  experience  is  that  these  firemen  are  touchy.  In  the 
first  place  they  start  in  with  the  idea  that  they  have  been  ap- 
pointed by  somebody,  that  their  duty  is  to  put  out  fires,  that 
they  are  paid  for  that  and  for  nothing  else,  and  when  you  call 
on  them  for  extra  duties,  as  Mr.  Richman  says,  there  is  more 
or  less  friction.  They  have  to  serve  your  orders  of  law  in  va- 
rious towns.  We  will  mail  them  to  them  and  ask  them  for  ser- 
vice, and  they  go  and  serve  the  orders  for  tearing  down  build- 
ings, or  anything  else,  but  every  once  in  a  while  we  run  up 
against  a  case  where  a  man  says,  "I  am  not  paid  for  this."  He 
says  it  in  spirit  if  he  does  not  say  it  in  so  manv  words.     In  fact, 


1  have  had  two  or  three  men  sav  i 


o  me,  "Send  your  men  down 


2n.s 


1:5 


:fii 


here;  they  get  paid  for  this,  we  are  are  not  going-  to  do  it,"  a 
I  have  had  to  call  on  the  Mayor  to  compel  them  to  do  it. 

Mr.  Richman:     Anyone  you  engaged  would  need  to  be 
first-class  man. 

Mr.  Friedley:    Yes,  that  is  right. 

Mr.  Richman:     Because  if  you  send  out  a  man  who  is  n 
a  first-class  man  to  a  Fire  department,  you  would  be  in  a  wor 
position  than  you  were  before.    Do  you  think  that  would  help 
alleviate  this  friction? 

Mr.  Friedley:     Yes.     Get  the  right  kind  of  man  to  go 
a  town  and  live  with  the  firemen  a  week,  if  necessary,  and  si 
that  the  department  is  in  good  shape  in  every  way,  and  visit  the 
occasionally. 

Mr.  Richman:     Would  you  have  that  man,  for  instance, 
they  were  wanting  to  get  more  apparatus,  go  before  the  c'it 
Council  and  argue  their  case? 

Mr.  Friedley:  I  would  like  to  get  a  man  strong  enough  t 
do  that,  to  take  care  of  matters  like  that  in  public,  whenevf 
he  thought  necessary,  and  handle  the  situation. 

Mr.  Richman:  Mr.  Nettleton.  you  are  planning  a  Fire  d( 
partment  school.  What  is  your  purpose  in  that  school?  Di 
you  have  this  idea  in  your  mind,  of  bringing  about  better  re 
lations? 

Mr.  Nettleton:     That  is  one  of  our  main  objects  of  organ 
iznig  the  Fire  College  in  our  state,  to  get  closer  co-operatioi 
between  the  Fire  departments  and  our  office.       Ever  since 
have  been  in  office  I  have  seen  the  need  of  that.     Some  of  th^ 
iMre  Chiefs  have  been  very  fine  about  making  inspections  an( 
reporting  matters   for  our  attention,  and   some  of  them   hav( 
been  very  indifferent,  and  I  think  that  if  we  can  be  of  some  rea 
service  to  them  and  show  the  Fire  departments  throughout  th< 
state  that  we  are  working  for  their  interest,  that  in  that  way  w< 
will  get  their  active  co-operation  and  support,  and  they  will  worl 
hand  in  hand  with  us.    Now  another  thing     In  organizing  thest 
iire  prevention  committees,  that  is  one  of  the  objects  of  form- 
ing them,  not  only  to  have  good  men  in  different  towns  who  are 
interested    in    the    fire   prevention    game,    working   along   with 
the  Fire  Marshal's  office  in  an  effort  to  reduce  the  fire  waste 
but  also  that  these  men  use  their  influence  in  securing  better 
fire  protection  ai.d  better  equipment  for  their  firemen.     When 
we  organize  a  committee  the  deputv  in  charge  of  that  work 
makes  a  report  to  the  department  and  states  the  condition  he 

206 


4 


finds  the  fire  apparatus  in.  On  receipt  of  the  report  I  write  a 
letter  to  the  Mayor.  If  their  equipment  is  in  good  condition 
they  are  complimented.  If  it  is  reported  in  bad  condition,  old, 
out-of-date  or  inadequate,  I  suggest  that  the  matter  be  taken  up 
with  the  City  Council  with  a  view  of  taking  immediate  steps  for 
providing  better  equipment.  I  try  to  appeal  to  them  from  the 
standpoint  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  city  or  town  to  .see  that 
the  men  are  properly  equipped,  calling  their  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  firemen  are,  in  many  cases,  volunteer  business 
men  and  citizens  of  the  town,  and  that  the  city  should  equip  the 
men  with  the  best  apparatus  possible  in  order  that  they  might 
always  work  to  the  hest  advantage. 

Mr.  Horan:  Mr.  Chairman,  I  merely  want  to  make  this 
suggestion.  We  are  very  fortunate  in  West  Virginia  in  hav- 
ing a  first-class  Assistant  Fire  Marshal,  a  man  who  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  was  Captain  or  First  Assistant  Chief  of  the  Fire 
department  at  Wheeling,  one  of  the  largest  cities  in  the  state, 
;uui  I  find  him  a  very  valuable  man.  In  visiting  Fire  depart- 
ments he  meets  the  men  on  their  own  ground.  He  can  relate 
to  them  personal  experiences  of  fires  and  has  no  difficulty  in 
the  world  in  becoming  a  warm  personal  friend  of  them  in  the 
shortest  possible  time. 

Mr.  Richman:  I  think,  Mr.  Horan,  you  have  struck  the  key- 
note, that  of  establishing  friendly  relations  with  the  F"ire  de- 
partments. 

Mr.  Horan:  Yes,  he  can  meet  them  and  in  a  very  short  time 
give  them  information  that  is  very  valuable  and  that  would  not 
be  received  from  an  outsider  coming  in  from  our  office,  and 
tell  them  something  about  their  business.  Now  he  is  also  val- 
uable in  this  respect:  he  is  a  thorough  inspector.  In  making  in- 
spections we  leave  a  copy  of  the  order  with  the  owner  of  the 
building,  or  the  occupant,  and  one  copy  with  the  Chief  of  the 
Fire  department.  One  copy  is  placed  on  file  in  our  office  at 
Charleston.  My  other  men  are  not  so  well  trained  in  inspection, 
but  they  are  coming  on  and  following  up  these  inspections,  and 
following  along  the  orders  that  we  give  them.  Now  another 
point,  and  that  is  with  respect  to  inspections  in  towns  where 
they  have  volunteer  fire  organizations.  In  a  number  of  in- 
stances I  have  paid  the  Fire  Chief  of  a  town  myselT  for  his  ser- 
vices as  inspector,  for  this  reason :  They  are  paid,  as  a  usual 
thing,  a  stated  salary,  which  is  the  same  for  each  fire  fought. 
They  may  be  engaged  in  the  plumbing  business,  or  as  carpen- 
ters or  'bricklayers,  or  in  any  other  walk  of  life,  and  it  is  un- 

207 


)  { 


l?r 


fair  to  them,  and  you  cannot  expect  them,  to  give  up  their 
.ne^ses  to  do  mspection  work  without  compenfation         hTv 
hes,tancy  m  saymg  that  they  serve  as  inspectors  for  my  of 
The  plan  serves  two  purposes.     It  gets  them  interested  in 
prevention  and  it  makes  them  very  friendly 

Office  and  the  Fire  departments,  becan.e  there  are  many  c 
the  entire  state  and  they  are  the  agencv  which  must  be  in 
operation  with  the  Fire  Marshal's  department.     No  v  w     • 

shonL  I  ,  consensus  of  opinion,  that  a  Fire  Mar.= 

should  have,  when  possible,  a  trained  fireman  in  his  office 
work  among  the  Fire  departments  of  the  state.     The  qu  st 

ItZ  'f'T:    J"^^  ''°"  '-^  ^'^^  ^'-  -^r-^hal  going 

get  these  men  for  this  particuhr  job'  Mr  Philip  have  ^ 
any  thouKhts  along  this  line?  •   ^ninp.  have  j 

Chief    Philip:        No.   not    particularly.         ft   would    se, 
to  me  as  ,    that  should  be  left  to  the  individual  F^e  Ma 
as  to  how  he  was  going  to  get  those  men. 

Mr.  Richman:    Let  me  ask  you  this  question     Would  it 
pract.eable  for  him  to  take  a  man  out  of'some  Fire  dep  rtme 
m  the  state  and  send  him  to  the  New  York  Fire  CoHege 
three  months,  and  then  bring  him  back?  ^ 

hard?o"d?t''hat'^f  '' H"  ""  '  '"'""^^'^^  ^'^'^^  '*  "^'^^^'  "e  rath 
hard  to  do  that,  for  the  reason  that  he  would  be  tied  up  in  h 

own  private  business.     If  he  was  a  paid  Chief  it  might  be  d 

f.cult  from  the  standpoint  that  the  citv  would  notTafe  to  reU 

quish  his  services,  although  it  might  be  assumed  that  it  ."u 

be  a  very  excellent  proposition  and  would  redound  to  the  gc^ 

rL       A^u^t"'^'^   '"   '^''  P^'-^''^"'^"-  ^tate.  and  would  a1^ 
redound  to  the  benefit  of  the  particular  city  from  whicrh    cat 

1  ru  :o7i:  in^'"^'  ^";'"  ^nowledge^and  woulfev^tu:; 
niaK(  use  of  It  in     is  own  department. 

firem"%'^°'""'°^    "  '""'  '"""■"^  ""'=  "'"•  "<">■  "''  =  train., 

Mr.  Richman:    In  what  position? 

Mr.  Lewis:     I  don't  know  just  what  his  position  was   but 

TheChierf  F^'f  ^'^  "^'"^'^  ^'^*  another'man  ^ann^  do 
Ihe  Chief,  of  Fire  departments  will  stand  for  more  from  a  fire- 

208 


p  their  bus- 

I  have  no 

r  my  office. 

;sted  in  fire 

the    prob- 
e  Marshal's 
many  over 
it  be  in  co- 
)vv  we  will 
rable  thing, 
re  Marshal 
is  office  ta 
le  question 
il  going  to 

have  you 

Duld  seem 
e  Marshal 

ould  it  be 
epartment 
ollege  for 

be  rather 
up  in  his 
lit  be  dif- 
!  to  relin- 

it  would 
the  good 
3uld  also 
he  came, 
ventually 

a  trained 
ted  with 


was,  but 
inot  do. 
n  a  fire- 


man  than   they   will   from   any  other  person.     He  can   talk  to 
them  in  a  way  that  other  people  cannot. 

Mr.  Beach:  Part  of  my  men  were  on  paid  departments  and 
part  were  volunteer. 

Mr.  Richman:     Firemen  or  officers? 

Mr.  Beach:     I  don't  think  they  were  officers. 

Mr.  Richman:  Xow  that  brings  up  the  difficult  problem 
as  to  how  the  Fire  Marshal  is  to  get  the  man  he  wants. 

Mr.  Beach.  Excuse  me.  Since  I  made  the  other  statement 
I  believe  there  is  one  of  our  men  who  never  had  any  connection 
with  a  Fire  department.  I  think  that  is  right.  We  gave  the 
preference  to  returned  soldiers  and  this  young  man  at  least  de- 
serves the  app.->intnient.  He  was  in  an  empty  house  in  France 
with  seventeen  others  when  a  shell  hit  the  house,  killing  fif- 
teen. Part  o'  'he  shell  went  into  his  neck,  just  missing  the 
jugular  vein,  ^nd  came  out  between  the  shoulder  blades — at 
least  the  physicians  took  it  out  of  there.  Another  piece  of  the 
•'-"ll  hit  him  and  stayed  in.  I  guess  the  metal  gives  him  grit, 
ause  he  sure  hands  out  the  orders. 

Mr.  Foster:  I  will  state  this,  that  in  Oklahoma  we  have  a 
law  that  any  member  of  Fire  departments  as  well  as  the  Chiefs 
can  be  thrown  out  of  office  on  charges  being  preferred  and  sub- 
stantiated. In  our  department  both  the  assistants,  my.self  and 
Mr.  Hammill,  second  assistant,  are  firemen,  and  have  had  con- 
siderable experience  in  fire  prevention  as  well  as  inspections. 
In  that  way  we  can  go  ahead  and  give  information  to  our  dep- 
uties. 

Mr.  Corbett:  Mr.  Chairman,  in  my  plant  in  this  city  (Ma.^ 
fcy  Harris  Company)  I  have  yet  to  see  an  in.spector  come  from 
the  city  Fire  department  to  the  factory.  While  I  am  on  my  feet 
I  want  to  take  this  opportunity  of  thanking  you  y  ntlemen  who 
made  kindly  reference  to  the  company  where  I  am  employed 
and  to  the  Fire  department  of  which  I  have  been  in  charge  for 
thirty-one  years.  We  never  called  any  Fire  department  in  and 
my  friend  here,  Mr.  France,  who  has  charge  of  the  next  largest 
f.  -tory  we  have  in  this  country,  in  Woodstock,  has  made  it  a 
point  to  put  inspectors  as  well  as  Fire  Chiefs  on  to  make  thor- 
ough inspections.  But  I  never  saw  a  city  fireman  coming  to 
make  an  inspection  but  once,  when  we  made  a  complaint  of  the 
hydrants,  and  I  venture  to  say  that  none  of  those  men — and  they 
are  very  competent  men— if  they  were  asked  where  those  hy- 
drants were,  could  tell  you.     I  say  that  all  cities  should  give 

209 


fr     '•*  ■ 


mm 


firemen  authority  to  go  around  and  see  what  has  been  don 
each  place. 

Our  company  is  very  enthusiastic  in  fire  prevention, 
have  had  a  large  number  of  fires  in  all  our  factories  in  Can; 
where  we  employ  10,000  people,  and  in  thirty  years  the  loss 
oeen  less  than  $500  in  the  whole  of  the  plants.    That  means,  j 
tlemen,  that  it  is  a,n  absolute  question  of  cleanliness  and  of  or 
and  a  Fire  Chief  left  entirely  in  charge  of  his  department    w 
out  mterference  on  the  part  of  the  company  officials,  will 
results.     I  think  it  would  be  an  awfully  good  thing  for  Fire 
partments  throughout  the  country  if  they  would  let  their  r 
go  and  see  what  the  private  men  are  doing.     The  priv:  te  r 
get  the  training  that  municipalmen  don't  get.  because  t  ley 
up  against  it  every  day.     Every  day  in  the  year  is  prevent 
cay.  mcludmg  Sundays  and  holidays,  and  I  want  to  say  tha 
do  not  thmk  the  municipal  men  get  a  proper  chance  to  be  fii 
class  inspectors. 

Mr.  Richman:     The  next  question  came  up  during  one 

the  papers  presented  at  the  convention  and  that  is  the  probl 

of  large  space  newspaper  advertising  for  fire  prevention  and  f 

protection,  either  by  direct  publication  bv  the  State  Fire  M 

shal's  department,  or  by  encouraging  fir^  protection  apparal 

makers  and  msurance  men  to  advertise  Fire  and  Accident  P 

vent.on  Day  with  a  large  display  space  in  the  newspapers,  for 

stance    with   fire   prevention  advertised   in    the   center      The 

IS  no  question,  of  course,  that  such  advertising  is  effective     H 

anyone  anything  to  say  on  that  question?    Is  it  practicable  i 

•ire  Marshals  to  use  paid  newspaper  space  for  publicity  wo 

for  advertising  fire  prevention?     Mr.  Darst.  what  do  you  thi, 

of  that,  whether  it  is  practicable  to  use  the  funds  of  the  state  f 

paid  newspaper  advertising? 

IS  PAID  ADVERTISING  PRACTICAL  FOR  THE  FIR 

MARSHAL? 

Mr.  Darst:  My  observation  on  the  question  has  not  bee 
to  an  extent  that  my  opinion  would  be  worth  anything  RiH 
off  the  bat  I  would  say  no,  that  it  would  hardly  be  possibl 
Just  look  at  the  newspaper  and  read  the  headlines  and  you  wi 
see  It  IS  busy  with  other  things,  and  it  seems  to  me  it  would  h 
a  waste  of  money,  to  a  great  extent. 

Mr.  Kubasta:  My  department  does  not  have  an  appropris 
tion  whereby  we  can  use  newspaper  advertising,  but  I  believ 

210 


een  done  in 


if  you  do  use  it  you  have  a  more  direct  method  of  getting  at  the 
people,  because  you  can  start  the  advertisement  in  the  form  of  a 
story  and  lead  up  to  it,  thereby  getting  the  attention.  If  you 
just  took  a  full  page  ad  in  a  paper  peojjle  would  know  there  is 
something  doing,  because  people  have  come  to  believe  in  ad- 
virtisinuf  nowadays.  I  believe  there  is  something  in  adver- 
tising by  way  of  newspapers  when  there  is  an  appropriation  for 
the  expense  of  it.  We  have  very  close  co-operation  in  our 
state,  and  they  will  give  us  a  supplement  free  of  charge  and 
make  a  great  big  "red  fire."     I  believe  it  has  given  good  results. 

Mr.  Richman:  To  corne  down  to  a  suggestion  which  has 
.some  possibility  of  being  carried  out,  we  heard  from  Mr.  Frank 
Lewis  in  his  paper  the  other  day  the  suggestion  that  all  Fire 
.Marshal  dep-.rtments  might  contribute  a  small  sum  each  towards 
a  fund  which  might  be  spent  for  advertising  in  .some  such  jour- 
nal as  the  "Saturday  Evening  Post"  for  Fire  Prevention  Day. 

Preaident  Fleming:  I  certainly  believe  in  all  kinds  of  ad- 
vertising. I  can't  help  but  feel  that  it  is  important  and  help- 
ful. If  it  was  important  and  sensible  at  high  fever  pitch  of  war- 
times to  adverli.se,  it  is  certainly  vifally  important  when  we  have 
to  stop  the  greatest  leakage  the  world  ever  knew.  I  haven't  any 
trouble  in  getting  proper  material  in  the  newspapers  in  the 
\\  ay  of  publication  as  news  if  it  is  properly  written  up,  but  I  could 
not  write  a  story  to  save  my  soul  that  the  newspapers  would 
l)ul)li.'<h.  1  can  give  the  material  to  somebody  else  and  they  will 
write  it  up,  and  the  editors  will  publish  it.  But  listen,  men, 
wthen  we  have  special  days  why  shouldn't  we  advertise  in  every 
possible  way?  I  think  it  was  vital  for  the  government  at  tlie 
time  when  everybody  was  getting  in  real  work.  Why  shouldn't 
it  be  vital  at  this  particular  time? 

Mr.  Richman:  Mr.  Tracy,  do  you  believe  that  a  journal 
like  the  "Saturday  Evening  Post"  with  an  a. tide  signed  by  the 
Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North  America — would  you  give 
that  your  support? 

Mr.  Tracy:  Mr.  Richman.  we  have  no  support,  and  another 
thing  about  the  "Saturday  Evening  Post,"  it  has  a  wide  circu- 
lation, but  does  it  reach  the  homes  of  the  common  peojile  like 
a  home  newspaper  would?    I  fear  not. 

Mr.  Frank  Lewis:  We  have  had  the  greatest  co-operation 
from  the  newspapers  in  our  district  on  matters  regarding  fire 
prevention.  Articles  have  been  printed  both  in  «tory  form 
for  us  and  in  other  ways.     But  the  spending  of  money  for  ad- 

211 


f 

M 

k  \ 

I  i 

\ 

i     '' 

ft 

il 

1; 

1 

ii 

H 

m:  ii 


vert,s.„g  ,n  a  small  way  is,  to  my  mind,  an  absolute  wa 

money.    The  year  before  last  I  spent  about  $300  in  adver 

m  tne  papers  in  Boston.    A  small  ad  that  ran  about  two 

half  inches  on  the  front  page  cost  about  $;U),  and  it  doesn't 

many  papers  to  run  into  $300  in  that  way.    Another  propo: 

js  the  difference  of  frame  of  min.l.    \\i,ere  vou  have  sf, 

brge  papers  and  there  are  twelve  towns  with  a  populati, 

over  tuo  m.lhon  peopie-if  you  give  the  advertising  to  a 

Boston  paper  and  then  give  it  to  a  small  paper,  vou  are  goi, 

cause  a  certain  amount  of  feeling,  and  the  next  time  you 

to  pubhsh  a  f,re  prevention  .story  in  a  paper  you  are  goi r 

be  up  aga,nst  .t.     Now  I  think  every  state  o!  the  Un!oT 

has  an  appropriation  for  that-and   we  have  in  our  state 

tion  th.t  '  r  '  f?'  '"'"^'  ''^'''  '^^'  have  an  appro 
t.on  that  can  be  used  for  that  kind  of  advertising-in  thi> 

TZeTire  p"  '"■^^!'"^^,"-'""'t  we  get  together^  short  " 
before  F.re  Prevention  Day  and  procure  a  large  two-page  ad 
t.sement  m  such  a  paper  as  the  "Saturday  Evenin/post  ' 
ri2lTt!,'''\'!'"'  paper-any  paper  with  a  wide%ircula, 
I  believe  the  effect  of  that,  distributed  throughout  the  e. 
country,  would  be  that  we  would  not  only  receive  pub  ica 
hut  we  would  receive  education  throughout  the  entire  cou 

citv  or  .o  "'""'  '°""  "°'  ''^  '^'^^^'"^^  ^y  advertising 

city  or  town  paper,  .spending  a  small  amount  of  money 

an  aiv!!.rl'-    "'"  "'^""''^'"S:.  but  I  don't  think  the  publicatio: 
an  advert,  ement  ,s  worth  anything  unless  it  is  done  on  an 
mense  scale.     Small  advertising  regarding  fire  prevention  d 

n  the  ordinary  business  of  any  city  or  town.    To  make  it  atti 

inkTv  Hid^  "f  ^  t"  '"^  '^  "'"  ^^^^^^  discussioi. 
hink  ,f  jou  did  such  a  thing  as  that  before  Fire  Prevention  I 
would  be  brought  to  the  attention  of  school  teache  s    m 
.sters  and  everyone,  and  would  receive  attention  which"  wo 

tion" eet'IL'^h'  °''^'  T''     '  ^^'•°"^'>^  "^^^  ^'^'  ^^is  aZ 

can  get  some  idea  regarding  publicity  and  getting  the  moti 
to  put  in  an  advertisement  of  that  kind. 

Mr    Richman:     To  close  the  discussion    I   would   ask  ^ 

page  ads  which  were  placed  in  a  number  of  journals  to  be  c 
culated  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  UndervvTiters 

vou  .n  ■  ^^r^^"*^^"'    ^'-  Chairman,  I  don't  believe  I  could  gi 
you  any  information  regarding  any  publicity  in  connection  wi 

212 


lute  waste  of 
n  advertising 
ut  two  and  a 
:  doesn't  take 
r  proposition 
ave  so  many 
jopulation  of 
ig:  to  a  local 
are  goinp  to 
ne  you  want 
are  going  to 

Union  that 
Lir  state  and 
n  appropria- 
— in  tliis  or- 
i  short  time 
-page  adver- 
r  Post,"  but 

circulation. 
t  the  entire 
publication, 
ire  country, 
rtising  in  a 

■y- 

blication  of 
;  on  an  im- 
;ntion  does 
man  writes 
ce  it  attrac- 
sion,  and  I 
ention  Day 
;hers,  min- 
h  it  would 
is  Associa- 
!o  that  we 
the  moncv 


the  department  on  a  page  ad  in  the  "Saturday  Evening  Post" 
and  similar  papers  in  the  country.  It  was  done  as  an  experi- 
ment to  see  whether  the  expenditure  of  that  money  to  run  a 
page  ad  in  papers  of  that  sort  would  attract  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  people.  It  did  adve'-tise  a  little  booklet,  "Safeguarding 
the  Home  Against  Fire,"  and  did  not  carry  any  advertising,  nor 
anything,  but  simply  stated  that  that  little  hook  would  be  re- 
ceived by  anybody  who  would  send  a  postcard  asking  for  a  copy 
i)f  it.  That  did  not  run  very  long  and  therefore  it  could  not  be 
taken  as  a  criterion  on  which  we  could  judge  whether  advertis- 
ing of  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  would  be  successful. 

Mr.  Richman:  Does  anyone  wish  to  say  anything  on  this 
particular  problem?  Now  we  have  some  other  problems  here, 
but  before  we  go  on  possibly  some  of  the  Fire  Marshals  have 
thought  of  something  they  would  like  to  have  discussed  freely. 
I  will  be  glad  to  have  Chief  Philip  explain  what  would  be  the 
best  way  to  control  the  hazard  of  electrolysis.  What  can  you 
say  on  that  hazard,  Chief? 

METHODS   OF  CONTROLLING  ELECTROLYSIS. 

Chief  Philip:  It  is  very  little  I  can  say,  because  I  have  not 
had  any  particular  experience  except  in  one  case.  It  was  found 
that  a  leak  occurred  in  a  water  pipe  from  some  mysterious  cause, 
and  we  traced  it  back  for  some  considerable  distance.  Elec- 
trolysis occurs  from  the  volt  being  taken  away  with  the  cur- 
rent of  electricity  and  deposited  in  the  earth  adjacent  to  it. 
As  quickly  as  this  pas.ses  underground  and  is  properly  con- 
nected up  so  as  to  form  a  perfect  arc,  that  situation  stops  im- 
mediately.    I  could  not  tell  you  much  about  electrolysis  at  all. 

President  Fleming:  If  I  might  be  permitted  to  take  just  a 
moment  or  two,  electrolysis  is  one  of  the  most  important  fea- 
tures of  our  fire-fighters'  experience.  You  have  fires  and  you 
cannot  find  the  cause,  but  when  you  get  right  down  to  the  final 
analysis  you  will  find  a  good  many  of  them  are  caused  by  elec- 
trolysis. Now  what  is  the  cause  of  electrolysis?  In  the  first 
place  you  have,  say.  a  street  railway  through  your  town.  You 
find  the  ballast  has  gone.  The  rails  are  improperly  bonded 
so  as  not  to  take  care  of  the  current  that  passes  through  to  the 
power  house.  You  will  find  the  current  will  come  along  in 
the  line  of  least  resistance  through  the  moist  earth  down  to  the 
nearest  pipe  line  that  will  convey  it  back  to  the  base.  Where 
the  current  leaves  the  pipe  and  jumps  back  to  the  rail  it  bores 
a  hole  in  the  pipe  in  time.  The  only  way  to  remedy  it  will  be 

213 


:3A.i^  M 


to  re-l>ond  the  bad  rails  and  re-establish  the  tracks      Thev 

al'tract"  ^c:rt:'  T'^^^^  ^'^^  they  h^t  the"-':^ 
aia  tracks.     Certainly   n  does,   because  that   is   the  reas, 

IbH  t  ''''  ^''"  ''  J"'"''  ''-•^  to  the  rails      1    you  ca 
tab hsh  the  return  wire,  either  overhead  or  on  the  weU-S 

a  >■::;':  rr^M*^'  ^"^  ^^  ^°'"^  ^^^  e.in,inatraL^ 
all  >our  trouble  of  electrolysis.  I  went  into  a  cellar  ,not 
long  ago  where  we  had  had  one  building  put  out  of  ex"  t 

not  iL7:r'^''!!''-     ''  ^''  ''"-  fo'ator  so  you 
not  fmd  a  p.ece  of  the  wooden  building  two  feet  lon/and 

.hock  from  the  meter  that  >t  pretty  nearly  knocked  me  dowr 
Chief  Philip:     Mij^iit  1  ask  a  question,  whether  Mr    F 
■ng  connects  that  up  with  the  danger  from  lire" 

cdlar  Y  I  ^""°^^^'°"g:  the  line  of  least  resistance  into 
cellar.  You  have  a  pilot  light  burning  by  the  tank  and  ius 
«oon  as  a  certain  amount  of  gas  gets  into  the  eel  ar  Vou  hav^ 
explosion  and  the  whole  building  is  going  to  go 

nost^-v^h'riV    ^^^-^-^  have  you  had  any  difficultie. 
Mr.  Frank  Lewis:    No. 

like  "o\f^'^"-     ""  '">■""  ''"  '">■  I"-'""'  .hey  w„ 

Table  discussion?     "^  '^  '^'  ''''''''''  °^  ^^"^  ^o" 

Mr.  Richman:     No.  we  are  going  right  ahead       \.i. 
question  you  like  and  we  will  discuss  it.  ' 

ADVISABILITY    OF    WRITTEN    APPLICATIONS    FO 
FIRE   INSURANCE 

we ";- "r; "": 'LV';;';;;::.  ■„:°::'L"'';,  ,•,:  -f :  w^-- 

"O  unprotected  risks.    The  ob  ectim,  ,,  ,^  ■   "'""•'"'"' 

stances  insurance  „a,s  carri.tr:  p'; t"     ,r,L,";:„'>".°'  '" 

.en  .pS"; tr^to'i^v^Ti'llV;:"'  °''="'°"  '°  "  -"' 
v....  . .  H^iii-v   ui   insurance  on  unD!T>tppf/>/4  ri~ 

iJ:r^.^::.-^;^cr^:xr:„sS 

214 


V     They  will 
;  their  newly- 
he  reason    it 
■  you  can  es- 
well-bonded 
e  absolutely 
lar  inot  very 
of  existence 
o  you  could 
ng  and  next 
Mved  such  a 
ne  down. 
•  Mr.  Flem- 

escaping  in 
ice  into  the 
and  just  as 
■ou  have  an 

fficulties  in 


hey  would 

'  question, 
in  officials 
)ur  Round 


Ask 


an\ 


MS    FOR 

.  whether 
insurance 
ber  of  in- 
id  it  was 
i  on  that 
o  a  writ- 
cd  riSi 
,  so  that 
onstrued 


as  a  technicality  in  order  to  avoid  the  payment  of  an  honest 
loss.  When  an  applicant  takes  out  a  policy  of  insurance,  that 
policy  of  insurance  is  a  mere  contract.  When  you  take  out  a 
policy  of  life  insurance  you  sign  a  written  application  and  an- 
swer certain  material  questions.  Why  should  we  not  take  a 
written  application  for  a  policy  of  insurance?  Make  the  ques- 
tions very  simple  and  it  will  give  us  some  record  of  the  in- 
surer, whether  he  has  had  any  previous  fires,  and  if  you  give 
him  a  few  vital  questions  it  would  take  hut  a  moment  to  an- 
swer them. 

A  Voice:    Just  name  two  or  three. 

Mr.  Horan:  My  idea  would  be:  "Have  you  ever  suffered 
loss  by  fire?  If  so,  when  and  where?"  "When  was  your  inven- 
tory taken?— the  amount."  and  follow  it  down  on  a  prepared 
form.  I  don't  remember  all  of  them  at  this  time,  but  say  eight 
or  ten  questions.  Now  it  seems  to  me  such  an  application  as 
that  would  have  a  tendency  to  avoid  over-insurance,  because  the 
agent  cannot  plead  ignorance.  He  will  not  dare  say.  "I  didn't 
know;  I  didn't  take  th*;  trouble  to  inspect  it,"  and  in  that  way 
the  application  would  not  justify  a  trip.  Another  t.uestion  would 
be  "Have  you  had  any  insurance  cancelled  recently?"  Now 
an  agent  will  take  a  policy  of  insurance  on  a  risk.  The  special 
agent  representing  the  company  comes,  hwks  over  the  risk, 
soes  to  the  agent  and  tells  him  to  cancel  that  risk.  He  does 
it.  and  frequently  turns  round  and  puts  it  into  another  company. 

Mr.  Richman:  The  agent  would  have  to  lie  on  the  record 
if  he  did  not  show  that? 

Mr.  Horan:  Exactly.  Now  the  agent  has  that  record  be- 
fore him  and  therefore  cannot  plead  ignorance,  and  if  the  assured 
makes  this  application  for  a  policy  and  falsely  states  that  he  has 
not  had  any  cancellation  recently,  then  the  policy  is  vitiated. 

Mr.  Kubasta:  Suppose  we  have  an  unprotected  risk  that 
covers  a  large  value.  Would  you  have  the  application  apply 
there  ? 

Mr.  Horan:  Exception  could  be  made,  for  instance,  in 
blanket  insurance,  that  it  would  not  be  required  in  blanket  in- 
surance. 

Mr.  Kubasta:  Your  idea  is  to  cover  unprotected  mercan- 
tile, dwelling  and  farm  risks?  As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  our  state, 
in  order  to  get  a  policy  you  have  to  fill  out  an  application.  It 
is  a  practice  of  the  companies. 

Mr.  Horan:     It  may  be  true  that  some  of  the  companies 

215 


i 


lii 


:! 


'Mh  i 


Scmand  'P^"^'""'  '-'  '»  '-^  -t  required  by  statute,  as 
understand      There  are  companies  which  would  be  willine 

with  tLt  re' ut.ent!^'''"'"''"  ^'"""  ''  '''"''^''^'  '^  ^^P 

an  assured    who  makes  some  change  in  his  risk,  report  to  th 
company  the  number  of  times  the  risk  has  bee;  chanLd    t 

^  wcl     f  ^"r  '"^■'^'"*''  ^'^""^  '^-  ^"''  I  think  it  woul 

be  well  .f  you  could  co-operate  with  the  companies,  r  .et  ther 
to  co-operate  with  you.  so  that  a  matter  of  that  kin.  'ould  b 
reported  to  the  Fire  Marshal,  who  could  promptly  see  hat  tha 
defec  was  remedied.  I  question  very  much  the  ability  of  a  Fin 
Marshal  to  enforce  the  taking  of  an  application  on  a  protectee 
or  unprotected  risk.  proieciet 

Mr    Horan:     I  don't  mean,  Mr.  Brown,  that  it  should  bt 

ft  sh'urd  be     T/''  '^'^  ""^"'^''^  department.     I  mean  tha 
It  should  be  a  statutory  provision  the  same  as  you  have  in  life 

irom  thati  '  nt-        '°'"'"  "'  '"""""  -""•^  ^hen  star^  om 

thed^^ct!:trB:ow"nr  ^'^"■^  ^°" '-' ''-  ^^-^-^  -  -p- 

.nr^^u  !T"'  ^°"  '"""''^  ''"^'^  ^°  ^et  the  companies  to  re- 
port the  defects,  or  the  representatives  of  the  companies  If  a 
company  mt.mated  that  they  would  cancel  the  risk  ^nd  they 
would  communicate  that  to  the  Fire  Marshal's  office,  giving 
their  reasons,  the  F.re  Marshal  could  see  that  those  defect! 
were  remedied.  I  do  not  see  why  it  could  not  be  done  n  a  v"ry 
simple  manner.  <=  'n  a  very 

■        '*f-^'"=^'^"=     ^  d°  "ot  see  why  you  want  to  penalize  the 

an  assured,  and  I  renew  ,t  with  another  company  and  receive 

tXhe  dt^'^"'  'r  '!"'  ^"""'-     '^'^^  ^°-P-'-  -'•' "Ho 
take  the  defective  risk  after  it  is  notified. 

Mr.Shapley:  Mr.  Chairman,  this  matter  is  one  that  is  very 
•nteresting  to  me  at  the  present  time.  Our  Dominion  Fire  In 
surance  Committee  at  one  or  two  of  its  sessions  has  been  con- 
sidering this  matter  and  quite  a  number  are  in  favor  of  compell- 
ing msurance  companies  to  use  an  application  form  in  ever,- 
case  It  was  opposed  at  one  of  our  meetings  by  a  majority  of 
the  insurance  companies  in  this  country  and  they  put  up  qui^e 

216 


a  bit  of  an  ohjectioii  to  it.  Perhaps  most  of  you  know  that  a 
few  years  ago  it  was  necessary  to  have  an  application  signed 
in  every  case,  but  the  last  few  years,  apparently,  they  have  got 
away  from  that  and  insurance  now  can  be  put  on  in  about  two 
niinutis.  All  you  have  to  do  is  telephone  the  agent  and  teli 
him^  you  want  some  insurance,  and  he  says.  "All  rijrht,  you  are 
on."  That  is  about  as  quick  as  it  is  done. 

Mr.  Brown:    Isn't  it  necessary  that  it  should  be  done  in  that 

way  ? 

Mr.  Shapley:  [t  may  be,  but  my  opinion  is  that  a  great 
many  fires  would  be  avoided  if  we  had  an  application  signed  by 
the  owner  of  the  property,  and  in  cases  where  it  Js  ansoiuieiy 
necessary  to  have  it  placed  in  a  very  short  time,  that  could  be 
taken  care  of  by  allowing  twenty-four  hours  or  a  certain  time, 
say,  when  the  application  could  be  signed  and  filled  out  in 
proper  form.  The  experience  of  a  number  of  men  who  have 
ven  in  the  insurance  busines.=  for  many  years  is  that  a  great 
mary  fires  would  never  occur  if  the  owners  of  property  were 
requiied  to  answer  certain  questions  on  these  application  forms, 
and  my  opinion  is  that  it  would  be  a  step  in  the  right  direc- 
tion to  go  back  to  where  we  were  some  years  ago  and  insist 
upon  a  signed  application  from  everyone  asking  for  insurance. 
1  would  like  to  have  an  expression  of  opinion  from  some  of  the 
gentlemen  here  because  they  have  had  much  more  experience 
than  some  of  us. 

Mr.  Tracy:  Isn't  it  a  fact  that  an  insurance  agency  will 
write  anything  and  the  only  question  is  how  much  do  vou  want? 
There  are  no  questions  asked.  It  is  more  a  case  of  "Put  a  thou- 
sand dollars  on  my  dwelling  or  household  goods,"  that  is  all. 
There  is  no  application  or  standard  policy. 

Mr.  Joseph:  I  haAe  been  connected  with  insurance  com- 
panies and  I  think  I  can  give  you  a  practical  statement  that  will 
relieve  your  minds  to  a  great  extent.  I  am  a  great  believer 
m  letting  the  shoemaker  stick  to  his  last.  You  gentlemen  have 
specific  and  more  important  functions  to  discharge  in  connec- 
tion with  your  states  right  now  than  to  talk  about  a  principle 
that  was  tried  a  hundred  or  two  hundred  years  ago  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  courts  threw  it  all  out.  These  applications  are 
absolutely  worthless.  One  court  would  object  to  an  "i"  be- 
cause it  was  not  dotted;  another  would  object  because  black 
ink  was  used  instead  of  green  ink;  the  court  said  that  was  not 
sufficient  and  threw  it  out. 

Now,  gentlemen,  the  majority  of  people  are  honest.     You 

217 


■m 


go  into  any  hij,'  insurance  c  mpany's  office  in  the  world  and  yc 
will  find  the  number  of  incendiary  fires  is  so  small  that  w 
cannot  get  a  percentage  on  them.  The  majority  of  proofs  i 
loss  made  with  intent  to  defraud  are  very  few  indeed,  outsit 
of  the  hot  air  that  the  independent  adjusters  shoot  to  the  con 
pany  in  order  to  tell  them  what  big  men  they  are.  There 
very  little  foundation  in  fact  for  presuming  there  is  an  epidem 
of  arson  fires  and  attempt  to  defraud  the  insurance  companie 
The  adjuster  and  the  claimant  inevitably  get  into  a  quarrel  i 
the  first  instance,  and  the  man  who  has  had  the  fire  natural! 
gets  rattled  and  doesn't  know  there  is  any  salvage. 

I  believe  if  the  Vne  Marshal  will  let  the  clerical  husine; 
alone  it  will  work  nut  to  the  satisfaction  of  everybody.  Th 
Fire  Marshal  has  certain  specific  duties  to  perform  and  the  con 
panics  will  co-operate  with  him  to  the  last  degree,  because  it 
a  financial  proposition  with  them.  With  you  it  is  a  moral  proj 
osition.  The  two  together,  we  hope,  will  bring  forth  a  reductio 
in  the  fire  waste  aind  in  the  fire  loss.  The  fire  loss  will  tak 
care  of  itself  automatically  and  if  you  will  accept  that  from  m 
as  a  practical  man  in  the  insurance  game  you  will  be  well  ac 
vised,  because  it  is  true  and  1  can  prove  it. 

Mr.  Horan:  You  .speak  of  applications  for  fire  insuranc 
being  thrown  out  of  court.  Will  you  give  any  instances  of  fir 
insurance  policies  which  did  not  have  an  application,  and  wh 
the  distinction  between  the  two? 

Mr.  Morgaridge:  I  am  not  directly  concerned  as  tr>  w^  ''le 
insurance  companies  are  forced  to  receive  applications  be. or 
writing  the  insurance  or  whether  they  are  not,  and  I  am  not  di 
rectly  interested  in  whether  or  not  Fire  Marshals'  work  is  mad 
tasier  or  harder.  I  would  like  to  see  you  all  succeed,  but 
have  my  own  personal  reasons.  I  do  not  personally  believ 
written  applications  will  have  any  effect  upon  the  incendiar; 
fire  loss.  If  that  is  the  idea,  you  will  not  prevent  the  crook 
He  will  be  just  as  crooked  if  he  has  to  put  it  in  writing  as  i 
he  has  to  put  it  in  any  other  way.  The  man  who  adjusts  losse 
asks  the  assured  if  he  has  had  any  other  fires,  and  certaii 
other  questions,  and  he  will  not  admit  any  more  fires  before  th( 
fire  than  afterwards.  It  is  just  as  easy  to  be  untrue  and  maki 
mis-statements  when  he  makes  the  application  as  it  is  whei 
he  makes  the  statement  to  the  adjuster.  Some  of  the  wors 
cases  of  arson  I  have  ever  seen  were  cases  where  the  assurec 
had  made  an  application,  and  I  will  tell  you  that  every  saieguan 
is  thrown  around  the  man  in  the  courts.   You  have  to  prove  tha: 

218 


he  is  guilty.     You  cannot  assume  that  he  is  because  he  makes 
a  mistake  in  rcKanl  to  his  application  for  insurance. 

Mr.  Richman:  W'c  have  one  more  prohk-ni  about  which 
we  have  received  a  special  letter,  so  I  will  just  pive  five  more 
minutes  to  this  subject. 

Mr.  George  F.  Lewis:  1  would  like  to  p)  (  n  record  as  takin;.; 
exception  to  Mr.  Joseph's  remarks.  The  question  of  over-in- 
surance is  one  of  vital  importance  to  the  I-'ire  Marshal  and  ! 
think  it  is  one  of  the  jjreatest  importance,  because  fires  causeil 
with  the  mere  object  of  gain  are  certainly  the  ones  which  tend 
tu  increase  the  fire  waste  of  the  country  very  materially.  We 
have  had  in  our  e.vperience  in  this  province  specific  cases  of 
where,  especially  in  the  case  of  foreijjners,  they  have  made  a 
business  of  over-insurance  and  of  having  a  list  made  out  after 
the  fire  of  goods  which  appear  to  have  been  taken  from  a  store 
catalogue,  and  in  actual  fact  on  examination  they  have  stated 
themselves  they  did  not  know  what  the  articles  were  used  for 
and  what  their  names  represented.  Italians  claiming  $!»()  brass 
beds  in  their  homes,  where  ordinarily  you  can  go  and  find  an 
iron  bed  which  should  not  cost  more  than  three  or  four  dollars! 
In  one  particular  instance  I  recall  there  were  twenty-f(3ur  in- 
-urance  agents  in  a  town  and  it  was  really  an  auction  business 
between  those  agents  and  the  foreigners  as  to  which  one  man 
could  have  the  most  in.surance.  .Vn  agent  would  take  a  poticy 
for  two  or  three  months ;  they  would  then  go  to  another  agent 
and  do  the  same,  and  in  .some  cases  I  was  told  that  the  foreign- 
ers carried  insurance  lor  a  year  or  more  and  never  paid  a  cent 
of  premium.  We  investigated  the  matter  and  as  a  result  there 
have  been  no  fires  in  that  city  for  more  than  three  months  and 
the  whole  condition  changed,  both  in  regard  to  the  agents  and 
the  over-insurance,  and  also  in  regard  to  those  foreigners.  One 
company  went  into  the  matter  of  the  policies  they  were  carrying 
in  that  particular  district  occupied  by  foreigners  and  found  they 
were  over-insured  from  thirty  to  .'!()()  per  cent.  They  cancelled 
everyone  of  their  policies  in  that  district. 

Mr.  Camber:  T  was  a  firm  believer  shortly  after  taking 
office  as  Fire  Marshal  in  the  application  plan.  In  life  insurance 
every  risk  must  come  in  by  sworn  application  and  I  thought 
that  was  the  proper  thing.  1  have  given  the  matter  considerable 
study.  I  have  investigated  it  and  I  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  there  are  just  as  many  frauds  put  over  in  life  insur- 
ance as  there  are  in  fire  msurance.  You  will  find  you  will  have 
just  as  many  frauds  in  fire  insurance  with  the  signed  applica- 

219 


tion  as  without.  Vou  are  not  going  to  eliminate  the  crook. 
The  crook  will  make  a  false  statement  when  he  makes  the  ap- 
plication for  fire  insurance  the  same  as  a  crook  in  life  insurance. 
I  am  a  firm  believer  now  in  taking  no  application,  but  would 
like  to  see  the  insurance  companies  adopt  the  plan  of  inspection. 
Mr.  Richman:  We  had  a  special  letter  read  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  convention  from  Fire  Marshal  Watson  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  in  which  he  asked  the  Association  to  dis- 
cuss briefly  the  question  of  exits  from  circus  tents.  Has  any- 
one had  any  experience  with  disasters  in  circus  tents? 

EXITS  FROM  CIRCUS  TENTS  IN  EMERGENCIES. 

President  Fleming:    Just  one  personal  observation.    When 
we  had  our  immense  lumbt-r  yard  fire  about  five  years  ago  in 
the  city  <4  Cleveland,  which  cost  us  $l,i>.-)(l,0()l).   I   happened  to 
be  at  the  Ringling  circus  tent  with  Mr.  Ferric  and  Mr.  Connell 
There  were  12,000  people  in  the  tent.     It  was  located  between 
three  and  four  blocks  from  the  flats  where  the  fire  took  place 
and  needless  to  say  it  was  a  matter  of  the  deepest  concern  to 
us  on  the  outside  watching  which  way  the  sparks  would  go. 
The  people  in  the  tent  didn't  know  anything  about  it.    You  can 
realize  what  the  situation  would  have  been  if  the  sparks  hap- 
pened to  alight  on  the  tent.     It  would  burn   immediately  and 
the  animals  inside  would  be  thrown  into  confusion.     Now  we 
had  upon  our  hands  the  elimination  of  12,000  people  from  that 
tent.     If  you  go  to  Cleveland,  or  you  can  talk  to  Mr.  Ferrie  or 
Mr.  Connell,  they  will  tell  you  that  we  put  12.000  people  outside 
that  tent  in  less  than  two  minutes.     How  did  we  do  it?    We 
went  to  the  management  and  closed  the  show.    We  required  the 
manager  to  have  all  his  men  stationed  on  the  outside  at  points 
where  the  tent  could  be  opened.     The  opening  into  the  animal 
tent  we  closed  and  had  a  man  stationed  there.     At  a  moment's 
notice  the  band  struck  up  the  final  exit  march  and  we  had  those 
people  all  going  in  lanes  in  different  directions.     In  two  min- 
utes the  work  was  done  without  an  accident. 

Mr.  Richman:    Did  the  tent  burn  down?         • 
President  Fleming:     No,  we  saved  the  tent  by  calling  in 
the  Fire  department  and  that  is  the  only  thing  in  the  world  that 
saved  it. 

Mr.  Richman:  Anj^me  else  had  any  experience  in  circus 
d.sa.sters?  If  not,  I  would  like  to  have  the  opinion  of  some  of 
the  Fire  Marshals  on  the  methods  of  protecting  people  who  at- 

220 


jjL._ 


tend  circuses.  That  was  the  problem  advanced  by  Mr.  Watson. 
Anyone  here  wish  to  speak  on  that?  Mr.  Haggerty,  have  you 
ever  had  that  trouble? 

Mr.  Haggerty:  .\o,  we  have  had  no  experience  along  that 
line.  There  is  only  one  suggestion,  that  there  should  be  a  uni- 
form principle  to  take  care  of  ai  -  panicky  condition,  but  we 
have  had  no  experience. 

Mr.  Richman:     .Mr.  Lew    ,  v.I'.ru  .nhrut  l-ston? 

Mr.  Frank  Lewis:  We  '  av  ■  hac;  nu  *.  j)erience  along  this 
line  of  expelling  people,  but  1.:.  i< 'v-ng'^  idea  would  be  sat- 
isfactory, that  the  tent  could  be  lifted  up.  I  think  that  should 
be  satisfactory. 

President  Fleming:  "Suu  will  find  in  nearly  all  these  cir- 
cus tents  that  they  kind  of  "well"  at  different  places  through 
to  the  outside.  We  had  the  men  just  ready ;  had  the  circus  em- 
ployes as  guides  right  through  to  the  outside.  The  people  didn't 
know  there  was  anything  wrong  until  we  had  them  out. 

Mr.  Hussey:  We  have  had  very  little  to  do  with  anything 
of  that  kind.  As  a  rule  circuses  only  touch  four  or  five  of  the 
large  towns  in  our  state  and  usually  the  hotels  in  the  remote  dis- 
tricts which  they  go  into  are  about  the  only  hazards  they  coula 
touch.  I  think  the  suggestion  made  by  President  Fleming  i<  a 
good  one,  of  taking  the  matter  up  with  the  management  of  the 
circus  when  they  arrive  in  the  city.  We  have  the  Ringling  Bros. 
circus  following  immediately  on  my  return  home  and  I  am  go- 
ing to  take  it  up  with  them  to  see  that  every  contingency  is 
provided  for. 

Mr.  Richman:  The  consensus  of  opinion  seems  to  be  that 
the  Fire  MarshaL  should  take  it  up  with  the  circus  manage- 
ment, so  as  to  leave  no  doubt  about  getting  the  people  out,  and 
also  to  have  watchmen  about  the  tent  to  see  that  it  is  not  ignited. 

Mr.  Hussey:  And  see  that  fire  extinguishers  are  provided 
in  and  around  where  the  straw  is  placed  for  the  horses. 

Mr.  Richman:  Are  there  any  other  questions?  If  not,  we 
will  close  the  discussion. 

President  Fleming:  I  am  sure  we  are  very  deeply  in- 
debted to  Mr.  Richman  for  this  excellent  Round  Table  period 
of  discussion.  I  sometimes  feel  that  these  problems  are  verv 
frequently  passed  up  in  the  rush  of  our  general  papers,  and 
when  we  have  a  period  of  discussion  such  as  we  have  had  this 
morning,  led  by  a  man  who  was  a  most  efficient  Fire  Marshal 
when  in  that  capacity  in  Indiana,  and  ;now  Editor  of  "Fire  Fro- 

221 


m 

\ 

■' 

i 

■' 

f 

'it'  Ml 

.Mii  mi 


tection"  and  the  Associate  Editor  of  the  "Fire  Underwriter" 
am  sure  we  a'l  appreciate  it.     I  am  going  to  ask  Mr.  Morgaridg- 
to  speak  on  one  particular  matter  he  has  in  mind. 

BRIEF  ON  ARSON  AND  BURNING. 

Mr.  Morgaridge:      It  strikes  me   that  this   Fire   Marshals 
Association  has  grown  sufficiently  i„  importance  and  influence 
that  ,t  ought   to  begin  to  assemble  material  that   would  be  ol 
value  to  the  Association  as  a  whole.     I  am  particularly  inter- 
ested.  of  course,  in  my  connection  with  the  National  Board    in 
trying  to  suppress  incendiary  fires.    I  speak  in  all  modesty  when 
I  mention  a  little  pamphlet  on  Incendiarism,  which  I  published 
together  with  a  history,  and  which  was  before  the  convention' 
and  I  believe  it  would  be  directly  to  the  benefit  of  the  Associa- 
tion if  you  would  formulate  a  brief  on  arson  and  on  the  Su- 
preme Court  decisions  concerning  it,  tabulated  with  an  index 
that    would   make  it   easily   examined,  so   that   any  prosecutor 
or  any  deputy  could  turn  at  once  to  any  particular  point  that  he 
wished  to  refer  to  concerning  the  trial  of  a  case  of  arson      We 
might  thmk  that  we  are  bounded  quite  closely  by  the  statutory 
requirements  of  our  own  particular  state,  but  there  is  very  lit- 
tie  difference  m  the  interpretation  of  arson,  and  even  if  there  is 
some  difference  in  the  other  states  and  provinces  as  to  what 
really  constitutes  the  offense,  yet.  afte,    dl.  everything  else  is 
bounded  by  the  general  court  practice.     I  know  a  yount^  at- 
torney m  Indiana  who  argued  to  the  court  and  jury  from  a  de- 
cision from  the  state  of  Massachusetts-he  alwav's  does-and 
thus  he  has  his  own  law.     This  is  true  of  probably  the  -reat- 
e.st  number  of  court.s.       Xow     arson     not    only  is  the  burning 
of  another  man  s  habitation.     That  has  been  changed  quite  gen- 
erally by  statute.     Some  states  have  changed  it  oni;  perhaps 
m   regard   to  including  certain   buildings   that  are  not  homes, 
but  It  IS  still  regarded  as  a  crime  against  the  occupancy  of  those 
buddings  by  anotjier  person.    Then  some  states,  as  Mr.  Camber, 
Mr.  Husscy  and  Mr.  Fleming  can  tell  you,  have  made  it  a  crime 
against  possession  of  property,  but  all  of  that   could   be  quite 
e'asily  given  ,n  ten  pages  or  perhaps  half  a  dozen  pages,  defin- 
Mi,^^  wliat  really  constitutes  arson,  and  could  be  written  in  half 
.'n  hour.     Thus  any  Fire  Marshal  in  the  Association  would  be 
able  to  explain  just  what  arson  is  in  his  particular  state,  whether 
It   IS  a  crime  against  possession  of  property  and  whether  the 
tenant  in  possession  could  be  indicted  or  not,  whether  the  wile 

222 


J'l. 


and  husband  could  be  indicted  separately  or  together,  whether 
the  husband  could  commit  arson  by  burning  the  property  of  the 
wife,  whether  either  ■  le  of  them  could  commit  arson  without 
living  in  the  house.  That  could  all  be  explained  very  easily 
and  such  a  pamphlet  as  that  would  be  just  as  applicable  in  the 
state  of  Louisiana  as  in  any  other  state.  The  pamphlet  could 
also  be  written  to  contain  the  law  of  sufficient  corroboration  of 
an  accomplice  and  the  sufficiency  of  the  corroboration  of  a  con- 
irssioji.  .11  (if  this  could  '  worked  out  without  very  much 
work.  You  could  <ret  the  material  together  and  .nake  it  appli- 
cable to  the  state  of  Ohio  by  simply  writing  the  law  of  the 
■itatc  of  Ohio  and  in  a  few  pages  state  what  the  law  is.  And 
1  move,  Mr.  Chairman,  that  a  committee  be  appoi.ited  to  draft 
such  a  brief  and  to  present  it  to  this  Association  for  adoption. 

Mr.  Horan:  1  make  a  suggestion  and  that  is  that  some  of 
the  instructions  to  juries  in  cases  that  have  been  passed  on  by 
the  Supreme  Court  be  included.  In  a  great  many  instances 
cases  have  gone  up  on  technicalities  which  have  involved  instruc- 
tions to  the  juries,  and  it  strikes  me  that  it  would  be  an  excel- 
lent plan  that  the  instructions  that  have  been  passed  on  by  the 
Supreme  Court  be  included  in  that  pamphlet. 

Mr.  Kubasta:  I  wonder  if  I  might  ask  that  this  committee 
be  delegated  to  draft  some  form  of  report  that  one  state  might 
submit  to  another  state  on  cjuestionahle  cases,  especially  where 
an  investigation  has  pro>  :on.  where  a  man  has  gone  un- 

der an  assumed  name,  or  .ircumstances  were  suspicious. 

In  other  words,  suppose  tl.  ....erent  states  got  out  a  bulletin 
giving  the  names  of  persons  who  had  been  convicted,  or  if 
not  Ci.nvicted,  of  whose  guilt  the  Fire  Marshal  was  convinced, 
although  there  was  not  sufficient  evidence  to  convict,  so  that 
we  might  have  a  little  catalogue.  If  a  man  had  a  suspicious 
loss,  you  could  look  at  your  card  index  and  see  whether  he 
had  a  fire  record  in  any  other  state. 

President  Fleming:  That  is  a  very  important  item.  I  take 
It  that  Mr.  Morgaridge's  motion  is  to  the  effect  that  a  com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  codify  all  the  arson  laws  of  the  different 
states,  to  note  decisions  and  all  the  data  that  has  come  from 
any  court  relative  not  only  to  arson,  but  to  any  other  procedure 
affecting  Fire  Marshal  work. 

Mr.  Morgaridge:  Well,  that  is  just  a  little  bit  farther  than 
I  went,  just  a  little  bit  broader.  You  could  scarcely  ask  that 
committee  to  codify  all  the  laws.     I  think  if  they  would  assem- 

223 


m.n 


hie  all  the  decisions  relating  to  what  constitutes  arson  v 
must  be  proved,  and  all  that  material,  then  each  individual 
Marshal  could  draft  for  himself  a  little  brief  of  the  law  of 
particular  state  and  what  constitutes  the  elements  of  the  ci 
for  ,,is  state.  It  could  be  the  first  chapter  of  his  book.  In 
way  the  book  would  be  very  useful  for  any  single  Fire  Mar 
or  any  smgle  individual  of  this  .Association,  as  a  proposed  d 
from  which  he  could  make  up  anything  himself. 

President  Fleming:     I  think  we  all  understand  that  n 
-Mr.    Morgandge,  and    it   is   absolutely   in   accordance   with 
thought.     We  have  had  a  lot  of  correspondence  along  that 
and  I  am  very  anxious  that  this  matter  be  taken  up  by  men  a 
are  particularly  capable  in  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association 
connection  with  Mr.  Morgaridge's  suggestion  I  would  al.so  s 
Rest  that  the  committee  formulate  the  basis  of  a  Fire   Mars 
law  as  a  type  which  might  govern  and  guide  new  states  in 
formation  oi  Fire  Marshal  departments,  so  that  we  will  h 
as  nearly  as  possible  a  uniform  system  throughout  the  Uni 
States  and  Canada. 

Mr.  Morgaridge:  It  strikes  me  that  perhaps  a  separate  cc 
mittee  ought  to  look  after  this  matter  of  a  suggested  Fire  M 
shal  law.  That  is  a  special  matter  that  perhaps  relates  tc 
special  phase  of  the  work.  The  committee,  however,  could  e 
ily  draft  a  suggested  law  regarding  arson  and  burning. 

President  Fleming:  I  withdraw  mv  suggestion,  becaus. 
see  very  readily  it  would  make  it  entirely  too  voluminous.  G( 
tUmen.  you  have  heard  the  motion.  Is  there  anyone  to  s 
ond  it? 

Mr.  Foster:     I  will  second  that  motion. 

Mr.  Gamber:     How  many  members  on  the  committee? 

President  Fleming:  Better  leave  the  size  of  the  commitl 
to  the  incoming  administrati.Mi.  The  motion  is  that  a  spec 
committee  be  appointed  to  compile  statements  of  all  decisio 
relative  to  arson  and  everything  along  the  line  suggested  1 
Mr.  Morgaridge.  and  submit  them  to  this  Association.  Are  y< 
ready  for  the  question?    (Carried  unanimously.) 

President  Fleming:     The  next  item   will  be  the  report 
special  committees.     May  we  have  a  report  from  the  Resol 
tions  committee. 


224 


RESOLUTIONS  PRESENTED  BY  RESOLUTIONS 
COMMITTEE. 

^Our  Committee  on  Resolutions  respectfully  submit  the 
following  report: 

I. 

Whereas,  tin-  present  time  is  one  of  unprecedented  social 
disturbance  and  violent  internal  attack  upon  the  foundations  n 
our  national  liberty.    Therefore  be  it 

Resolved.  That  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North 
America  h'-reby  endorses  the  suggestion  of  the  National  Board 
n  tire  Underwriters  that  this  year  October  ninth  be  specially 
observed  as  a  'Patriotic  Fire  Prevention  Day,"  and  that  all 
possible  effort  be  made  to  emphasize  its  largest  patriotic  values 
as  an  occasion  for  constructive  thought,  conservational  effort 
and  mutual  co-oneration  for  the  public  welfare. 

IL 

Whereas,  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters  has  es- 
tablished a  Loss  Information  Service  in  its  Actuarial  Bureau, 
and 

Whereas,  the  successful  operations  of  this  service  will  be 
of  great  value  to  the  work  of  our  several  departments  in  that  it 
will  centralize  information  from  the  several  states  relative  to 
suspicious  fires  and  facilitate  the  apprehension  of  incendiaries: 
now  therefore  be  it 

Resolved.  That  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  North 
^.merica  hereby  endorses  the  establishment  of  this  service  and 
recommends  that  the  members  of  the  Association  avail  them- 
selves c.  the  weaiih  of  material  collected  by  this  Bureau,  and 
hat  the  members  of  this  Association  supplv  to  the  said  Loss 
Information  Service  any  data  that  may  appear  to  be  of  value  to 
the  various  Fire  Marshal  departments  and  the  Loss  Information 
Service,  which  will  by  its  use  aid  in  lessening  th.  great  fire 
waste  of  the  country. 

III. 

Whereas,  the  Committee  on  Co-operation  with  the  National 
Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  appointed  by  the  last  annual  con- 
ven  ion  of  this  Association,  held  a  two  days'  session  -r  New 
York,  upon  January  9  and  10.  1919.  devoted  to  the  consideration 

nreve'n"L      ■■"''■''T^  '^"  '"^''^  °^  '^'  ^"'^"""  P^^Hc  from 
preventable  iirc ;  and 

225 


MBP 


Whereas,  the  considerations  of  this  conference  were  form; 
latej  in  ton  resolutions,  unanimously  adopted  by  your  commi 
tee  and  by  them  circulated  among  the  members  of  this  Assi 
ciation  ;  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  of  X'ort 
America  hereby  endorses  these  resolutions  and  recommends  i 
its  members  the  fullest  practicable  compliance  therewith. 

IV. 

Whereas,  the  International  Associati<>n  of  Fire  Engineei 
are  working  in  such  a  splendid  manner  for  the  furtherance  ( 
the  aims  to  which  this  Association  is  dedicated, 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  desires  to  co-operate  in  e' 
ery  possible  way  with  the  above  Association  and  that  we  del 
gate  the  then  President  of  this  Association  to  attend  the  ne: 
meeting  of  said  Association. 


The  splendid  program  containing  as  it  does  the  livest  to| 
ics  of  a  constructive  and  instructive  character  on  the  varioi 
subjects  of  fire  prevention  and  allied  matters  has  in  our  opii 
ion  been  not  only  valuable  to  the  members  of  the  Associatioi 
but  we  believe  it  will  prove  of  great  educational  service  in  tl 
future,  and  we  especially  commend  President  Fleming,  Seen 
tary  Gamber  and  the  Executive  committee  for  their  untirin 
fffcrts  in  thus  making  this  convention  one  of  the  most  succes 
ful  in  the  history  of  the  organization. 

VI. 

It  is  our  firm  belief  that  education  in  fire  prevention  is  mo: 
important  in  the  elimination  of  the  enormous  fire  waste  obtaii 
ing  in  both  Canada  and  the  United  States  and  we  recommen 
the  adoption  of  all  means  that  will  call  to  the  minds  of  tt 
people  the  need  of  conserving  the  created  resources  of  our  coui 
tries,  suggesting  public  instruction  in  our  graded  schools  by  u: 
ing  such  booksas  "Safeguarding  the  Home  Against  Fire"  pub 
lished  by  the  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters,  and  othe 
pamphlets  prepared  and  promulgated  in  the  states  or  provinc( 
of  our  several  members,  and,  we  believe,  that  a  well  defined  a( 
vertising  campaign  should  be  carried  out,  using  newspapers  an 
posters  and  other  mediums  of  information.  We  endorse  "Fii 
Protection"  as  the  official  organ  of  the  Association. 

226 


:|]  :^f" 


VII. 

"i  th!T.t'^-itT''';''-'  Association  expresses  its  appreciation 

"the  fT^at  city  and  country  ,n  which  the  convention  has  just 

K-cn  entertamed.     TIk.  splendid  men  and  women  of  thr.  "a 

and  have  made  a  deep  impression  upon  us.     The  hi.h     h!  Ic 

ter  a.nd   read.ly  recognized  ability  of  every  public  o  Fcial   w  t .' 

ptaTure^'Tirofr  '"  ''"'-'  "^  ^""^  ----- 
The  fine  courtesy  of  the  press  and  the  splendid  and  un 
Mualed   hospual.ty   of   the   people   have   placed   us   under  per- 

uty   i-.re  Marshal  Lewis,  and  their  committee  for  their  won 

:ro  r  Tvr:;-?r^  *"  -^f  ^-^  ^-^  -^^y  ^-^  -'^  ^  p--  - 

ant  one.     \\  c-   w,sh  also  to  acknowledge  our  sincere  annrecia 
t.on  o,  the  courtesy  extended  to  us  bv  the  Rotary  CirOffi" 
cers  and  Directors  of  the  Exhibition  AssociaUor'he  Ca;adian 
Manufacturers-  Association,  the  City  of  Toronto  and  the  Provbce 
of^Ontano.  the  Ontario  Motor  League  and  the  KinrEdJard 

J.  S.  DARST,  Chairman. 

FRANK  LEWIS. 

L.  T.  HUSSEY. 

RALPH  E.  RICHMAN. 
Mr.  Friedley:     Mr.  Chairman.  I  would  move  the  adontinn 

::  t':::;^::;.':;^'  ^^-^  ^"°-  ^^^^  opportuj;^t:?;^tr 

mana^eme:    fn    th'''''"''''°"  °^  '^'^  Association  to  the  hotel 
and  tSrr       K  "''"'■'"'>'•     ^^'^  h^^^  had  this  room  here 

wards  I     "  '""  ^"^  ''"'^  ^"^  ^°"^'^"^^^  -  -ery  ^ay  t": 


Mr.  Frank  Lewis:    I  second  the  motion. 


Mr  Hussey:     I  would  move  that  we  show  our  appreciation 
■"  the  adoption  of  this  report  by  a  rising  vote  of  thanks 
Mr.  Brown:    I  will  second  that. 
All  members  present  rose  to  their  feet 

CO.SS":  aT,"'^  '" ""  ""• "'' '"  "■»•" »' "" 


227 


REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  AUDIT. 

The  Committee  on  Audit,  to  which  was  referred  the  finan- 
cial report  of  Secretary-Treasurer  Gamber,  returned  the  report 
with  the  following  notation: 

"Examined  and  approved,  and  we  recommend  for  adoption.' 

WALTER  B.  BELL,  Chairman. 
F.  \V.  KL'BASTA. 
JOSEPH  G.  BROWN. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Foster,  duly  seconded,  the  report  was 
adopted. 

BUILDING  CODE  COMMITTEE, 

Mr.  Kubasta:  Mr.  President,  there  was  a  matter  of  unfin- 
ished business,  the  question  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Building  Code,  which  was  to  be  taken  up  at  a  special  session  oi 
the  Round  Table  talk.  The  committee  has  stated  that  it  did  nol 
intend  that  the  code  as  submitted  should  be  final,  but  simply 
a  basis  on  which  to  work.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  chairman 
to  request  that  one  member  of  the  old  committee  may  be  made 
a  member  of  the  new  committee  and  they  would  thereby  have 
the  benefit  of  such  efforts  as  have  been  put  forth.  As  the  time 
is  very  short,  I  would  like  to  put  that  matter  to  the  convention. 

President  Fleming:  I  think  it  is  the  consensus  of  all  thai 
we  have  been  so  very  busy  that  this  particular  matter  has  beer 
allowed  to  pass  unobserved.  It  is  a  most  important  mattei 
and  it  is  my  hope  and  wish,  that  some  of  the  members  who  have 
worked  on  that  particular  problem  may  be  considered  in  thi 
next  appointments  of  the  committees.  I  think  we  will  just  pass 
that  over  to  the  incoming  administration.  I  should  like  to  re- 
quest that  every  one  of  you  take  a  copy  of  this  building  cod< 
of  Wisconsin.  It  may  prove  of  use  to  you  in  drafting  a  build- 
ing code  for  any  other  state.  Now  we  will  pass  on.  Any  new 
business?  I  will  ask  the  Secretary  to  read  any  invitations  foi 
our  next  convention. 

INVITATION  FOR  1920  CONVENTION. 

The  Secretary  read  letters  from  Asbury  Park,  N.  J.,  Atlan- 
tic City,  N.  J.,  Niagara  Falls,  Can.,  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Chicago 
111.,  Cleveland,  O.,  Seattle  Wash.,  and  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

President  Fleming:  You  have  heard  the  invitations  thai 
have  been  given.    It  has  been  the  custom  for  the  Executive  com 

228 


mitUe  to  choose  fr<  m  the  list  of  invitations  the  place  where  the 
next  convcnt.on  will  be  held.  We  will  refer  theie  letters  to  the 
new  committee. 

Mr   Hussey:     I  w,n.kl  move  that  the  matter  be  left  in  the 
hands  of  the  Exe-utive  committee. 

Mr.  Foster:     I  second  that  motion.     (Carried.) 

wh-  f  •'  ^?''     ^  '"•"'■'  ^'"''  '"""  '"  ''•''^  ^°  '^''  f"'-'"^'  invitation 

he    o    r  '  '"Tf  ^'°'"  ^"'^''''^^'  '^'  ^^''  »hat  the  Cham- 

ber of  Commerce  of  Nashville  should  have  been  included      My 
mstruct.on.s  from   the   Scrretary  of  the  Chamber   of  Commerce 

which  would  be  a  most  delig^htful  place  for  the  State  Insurance 
Comniis.sioners   and    Fire   Al-irslnls   t,>  t,^i  i   ti    •  """'i-c 

frnth.rino-        .  T  ^arslial.s   to  hold   their  next  annual 

Kathermg,  and  I  can  assure  you  we  would  do  our  very  best  to  en- 
tertain you  in  every  possible  way. 

President  Fleming:    Now  is  it  the  opinion  of  the  convention 

nit ter^Tt,     C  '"'  '  "°"°"  ''''''"'  ^°  ^"^^  ^'""-t  com- 
mittees?    I  think  we  passed  a  motion  last  night  changing  the 

tion     Th  r"'""  '"  '''  """""'"^^  ""  ^^"'^''-'y  and  Educa! 
tion.     Ihat  IS  a  very  important  change 

Mr.  Brown:     I  move  that  the  matter  be  left  to  the  Execu- 

.ve  committee.    They  are  in  close  touch  with  the  situation  and 

hest  able  to  deal  with  it.  tuduun  and 

Mr.  Bell:     I  second  that.     (Carried.) 
REQUIREMENTS  FOR  HOTELS  AND   RESTAURANTS 
P««ident  Fleming:    We  have  recently  had  passed  a  new  law 
ative  to  hotels,  restaurant      etc.     I  have  just  a  few  copies  of 
th  s  law,  and  it  might  be  useful  in  your  states  for  the  purpose  of 
guiding  you.    \\  e  have  here  a  few  copies  of  the  material  for  ho- 
tels and  restaurants,  dealing  with  our  work,  and  we  expect  to 
have  at   east  $50,000  in  fees  paid  in  as  a  result  of  this  new  stat- 
ute.   It  became  effective  on  the  14th  day  of  August.     These  are 
pamphlets  o    the  rules  and  regulations  governing  hotels,  witl    a 
copy  of  the  law  printed  therein.    This  is  a  copy  of  the  applica 
^on.  which  mu.st  be  made  out  before  any  license  is  granted  in 
Ohio,  an.l  must  be  filed  by  the  man  who  owns  the  place. 

[cn'.^u',^*'"*  •^'/  T  ^^^  ^°"  ^^°"^  >'°"'"  '^'y  'Cleaning  law. 
Isnt  that  practically  the  code  establishing  the  dry  cleaning? 

President  Flemine:    Ye=     Tt  is  =  i^-.,  ,.i  •  u 
,.      .  ""s-     le...     tt  IS  a  lavv  which  govenib  every- 

tln.ng  ,n  connection  with  dry  cleaning  in  the  state  of  Ohio 
cers.      "^  we  pass  to  the  next  order  of  business,  election  of  offi- 

229 


ii.a. 


EL&CTION  OF  OFFICERS. 

Mr,  Kubasta:  For  the  office  of  President  I  would  like  to 
name  a  member  of  the  Association  who  has  been  with  us  some 
years,  has  been  active  in  its  interests,  and  has  served  in  the  ca- 
pacity of  an  official  for  the  past  two  years.  I  would  like  to 
place  ill  nomination  Mr.  John  G.  Gamber  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Tracy:  I  place  in  nomination  the  Hon  VV  N.  Van 
Camp  for  the  office  of  President. 

President  Fleming:  .\re  there  any  other  nominations?  If 
not,  I  will  declare  the  nominations  closed  and  we  will  proceed  to 
ballot.  I  am  going  to  appoint  two  men  who  are  associate  mtm- 
bers  of  the  Fire  Marshals'  .\ssociation.  Mr.  Morgaridge  and  Mr 
Richman,  to  make  the  tally.    Xow  we  will  proceed  to  vote. 

Mr.  Hussey :  Might  it  not  be  well  to  make  a  statement  as  to 
who  is  entitled  to  vote?  There  are  some  of  the  states  represent- 
ed here  by  the  Fire  Marshal  and  his  chief  deputy. 

President  Fleming:  Yes.  Only  those  who  are  members 
of  the  Association,  each  state  having  one  vote,  that  vote  being 
cast  by  the  Fire  Ma  ':^I,  Fire  Commissionor,  or  Insurance  Com- 
missioner, if  he  \i  p)i  ;.  at,  and  if  he  is  not  the  deputy  represent- 
ing him  will  vote,  i  will  ask  Mr.  Gamber  to  call  the  roll  of 
the  states.    Bring  your  ballot  up  and  leave  it  with  the  tally. 

Roll  call  of  the  states  was  given  and  the  result  of  the  ballot 
showed  Mr.  Gamber  received  a  majority  of  the  votes. 

President  Fleming:  I  declare  Mr.  Gamber  elected  as  the 
next  President  of  this  Association.  Now  we  will  proceed  to  the 
election  of  a  Vice-President. 

Mr.  Hussey:  I  want  to  place  in  nomination  for  the  office 
of  Vice-President  a  gentleman  who,  so  far  as  I  know,  has  al- 
ways been  faithful  and  energetic  in  the  work  of  the  Association. 
I  wish  to  nomina*"?  Mr.  John  S.  Horan  of  West  Virginia. 

Mr.  Nettleton:  I  want  to  place  in  nomination  a  man  who 
has  been  very  active  in  the  Association.  I  have  always  found 
him  to  be  very  anxious  to  serve  and  always  Oi.  the  job  when 
anything  came  up.     I  wish  to  nominate  Mr.  Kubasta. 

President  Fleming:  If  there  are  no  further  nominations  I 
declare  them  closed.  The  two  names  presented  are  Mr.  John  S. 
Horan  of  West  Virginia  and  Mr.  Kubasta  of  Wisconsin.  Both 
men  are  very  well  known  to  all  of  you. 

The  result  of  the  ballot  showed  Mr.  Horan  received  a  ma- 
jority of  the  votes. 

230 


President  Fleming:  Mr.  Iloran  I  declare  you  to  be  the  Vice- 
President  for  tht  coming  year.  We  will  now  proceed  to  the 
election  of  a  Secretary-Treasurer. 

Mr.  Gamber:  Mr.  President,  during  my  term  as  Secretary- 
Treasurer  of  this  organization  J  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
studying  the  different  men  arnd  among  them  1  have  found  one 
young  mpn  who  was  ready  and  willing  at  all  times  ♦o  come  to 
the  front  and  do  anything  he  could  for  the  good  of  the  cause. 
He  would  put  himself  out  and  make  trips  when  others  refused. 
I  therefore  take  pleasure  in  nominating  that  young  man.  Mr. 
George  H.  Xettleton  of  Minnesota. 

President  Fleming:  Mr.  Nettleton  of  \jinnesota  has  been 
nommated  as  Secretary-Treasurer.  Are  there  any  other  nomi- 
nations ? 

Mr.  Bell:  If  there  are  no  other  nominations  I  move  that  we 
make  it  unanin*  lus. 

President  Fleming:  It  has  been  moved  that  the  nominations 
close  and  the  Secretary  has  been  asked  to  cast  the  ballot  for  Mr. 
Nettleton.  All  in  favor  say  "Aye."  It  is  unanimous.  The  Sec- 
retary will  cast  the  ballot. 

Mr.  Gamber:  I  do  hereby  cast  a  unanimous  ballot  for  Mr 
Ocorse  il.  Xettleton  as  Secretary-Treasurer  for  the  Fire  Mar- 
shals' Association  of  North  America. 

President  Fleming:  Now  we  will  proceed  to  the  election 
r  Executive  committee. 

-.*r.  Hussey:  It  has  been  the  custom  for  some  years  to 
honor  our  retiring  President  by  appointing  him  a  member  of  the 
E.xecutive  committee  and  I  have  very  much  plea.sure  in  naming 
our  retirmg  PresiHent  as  a  member  of  that  committee. 

President  FIri;  .„,  :  I  appreciate  this  kindne-s,  especially 
because  I  love  the  .vr  k  of  the  Association.  You  have  honored 
me  by  making  me  President  in  the  past  year  and  I  would  like 
very  much  for  the  good  of  the  organization  to  have  you  rec- 
ognize someone  else  in  the  service  who  possibly  has  not  been 
recognized  in  any  position  at  all  in  connection  with  the  work  in 
rhe  past.  1  assure  you.  gentlemen,  that  I  will  be  only  too  glad 
to  sit  in  with  the  Executive  committee  and  give  them  the  Ijen- 
efit  of  ainy  suggestions  I  may  have  without  having  a  vote  in 
that  committee.  I  would  like  very  much  if  you  would  please  ap- 
point someone  else  here  who  is  not  recognized  in  an  official  ca- 
pacity on  the  Executive  committee  and  I  repeat  that  I  will  do 

231 


!|f 


anything  in  the  wo'ld  to  help  tl'.»  Association  the  same  as  I  do 
now. 

Mr.  Hussey:  Do  I  understand,  then,  you  refuse,  on  the 
grounds  given,  to  serve? 

President  Fleming:  I  would  decline  and  request  the  con- 
vention to  place  somebody  else  in  my  stead.  It  will  be  very 
much  appreciated,  for  the  reasons  stated. 

Mr.  Darst:  I  think  your  reasons  are  good.  I  desire  to  place 
tn  nomination  a  man  whom  I  think  this  convention  would  de- 
lijjht  to  honor  in  that  capacity  and  that  man  is  George  F.  Lewis 
of  the  city  of  Toronto. 

Mr.  Hussey:  As  the  second  member  of  the  Executive  com- 
mittee 1  desire  to  place  in  nomination  the  Hon.  Homer  Rutledge 
of  Michigan. 

Mr.  Heaton:  I  desire  to  nominate  a  gentleman  who  has 
seen  a  good  deal  of  experience  and  who  will  give  good  sound 
wisdom  and  judgment  to  all  matters  requiring  consideration. 
Mr.  H.  H.  Friedley  of  Indiana. 

President  Fleming:  Are  there  any  other  nominations  for 
the  Executive  committee? 

Mr.  Bell:    I  move  the  nominations  be  closed. 
Mr.  Nettleton:    I  second  that. 

President  Fleming:  Each  man  is  entitled  to  vote  for  two 
individuals. 

Tlie  ballot  cast  showed  Mr.  George  F.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Homer 
Rutledge  received  a  majority  of  the  votes. 

President  Fleming:  I  now  declare  Mr.  Lewis  and  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge elected  to  the  Executive  committee  for  the  coming  year. 
Gentlemen,  I  cannot  tell  you  how  very  much  I  have  appre- 
ciated your  kind  co-operation  in  the  last  year.  I  cannot  find 
words  to  express  my  gratitude  for  your  kindness  and  faithful 
co-operation,  your  splendid  support  and  the  magnanimous  way 
in  which  you  have  given  me  your  thought  and  help  in  the  last 
year.  It  is  a  very  great  pleasure  for  me  at  the  present  time 
to  pass  over  the  duties  of  this  office  to  the  incoming  President, 
who  will  now  take  charge. 

Mr.  Gamber,  the  newly  elected  President,  took  the  chair. 

President  Gamber:    Gentlemen,  I  am  not  feeling  well  enough 

to  attempt  to  m.ike  a  speech  to  you.    I  have  suffered  all  morning 

with  a  very  severe  nervous  headache.     I  appreciate  greatly  the 

honor  conferred  upon  me  and  wish  to  say  that  during  the  next 

232 


i 


' 


year  1  look  for  the  same  co-operation  and  the  same  pood  hard 

Ttt  r;?"'  ""'"'\^r'  ^"'"^  organisation  that  w/have  ha< 
m  the  past  two  years.     We  have  endeavored  to  make  the  Fire 

thatvv^l  .  r"'""°"„""  ^^^"^'^"i-'"  f^--  good,  an  association 
that  vvll  he  known  all  over  North  America  as  one  that  is  or- 
ganized for  the  purpose  of  doing  something  for  the  country-  as 
a  whole  by  gomg  a  little  beyond  our  respective  states  and  help 
.".  the  other  fellow  who  belongs  to  the  Lsociatiun^^d  bv  g  J- 
.ng  the  associate  members  the  best  we  can  an.l  assisting' them 

beck  and  call  always.     I  can  assure  you  that  if  vou  requ  re  mv 

n'm  mf  "''  '"""   '   ^•^«"  ^^  ""'v  ^oo  glad  'to  do  anvth'g 

of  011'  '  ■■""  '"  ■  ""  '''''  "■■  '"  ^"^^  Dominion 

.n  th'f'";.^;"*'  P^'^T  """  '^^°"'""  '  personally  want  to  e.xpress 
n  the  refr.ng   IVes.dent   n,y   thanks  and  mv  deep  appreciation 

fromTh  T  ';\."'°"<!"^"'  administration.     {  have'wa'tched      m 

from  the  f.rst  t.me  I  met  him  in  Cleveland  and  it  seems  to  me 

rom  observations  covering  from  ten  to  fifteen  years  that  I  haTe 

ever  run  across  quite  as  live  a  wire  as  the  retiring  Pre  ident 

^^ork  as  F.re  Marshal  of  h,s  state  and  1  want  to  express  mv  sin- 
cere grat.tude    for  the   pleasant  time    he    has    given     uTTd 
made  possible.     I  move  that  we  show  our  sincerltv  bv  a  stand 
>ng  vote  of  thanks  to  our  retiring  President. 
Mr.  Heaton:    I  second  that. 

Flemish  "^!'''''"'^'V'  ^^"^"'-•^'  ^"  t''^  •■'■"■nnk'  President   Mr 
Hemmg,  by  all  members  present  rising  to  their  feet 

Mr.  Fleming:     I   have  learned  to  love  everv  one  of  vou 

earned  to  know  your  virtues,  and  it  is  mv  tl,ough't  and  mv  1  ope 

l.at  the  work  of  the  Fire  Marshals'  Association  wil    be  doubled 

n  the  next  year  and  that  our  next  convention,  which  I  h^    o 

•>e  able  to  attend,  will  be  vital  and  increasing  in  its  efficienTv     I 

cannot  tell  you  how  much  I  appreciate  your^houghts  and  kind 

ness  m  the  expression  just  made. 

Mr.  Van  Camp:    I  move  we  adjourn. 
Mr.  Morgaridge:    I  second  the  motion. 
The  convention  adjourned  at  11:50  a.  m. 


233 


CONSTITUTION  OF  THE  FIRE  MARSHALS'  ASSOCIA- 
TION OF  NORTH  AMERICA. 


:     11, 


ijs; 


t 


ni 


Article  L 


The  name  of  this  organization  shall  be  "The  Fire  Marshals' 
Association  of  North  America." 

Article  II. 

Its  active  membership  shall  consist  of  the  fire  marshal,  fire 
commissioner  or  such  other  officials  and  their  deputies  of  each 
State  in  the  Union  and  of  the  Provinces  of  Canada  and  Mexico 
as  are  charged  by  law  with  the  duty  of  investigating  the  cause 
and  origin  of  fires,  or  in  any  manner  engaged  in  the  work  of  fire 
prevention. 

Its  associate  membership  shall  consist  of  any  organization 
or  person  interested  in  the  wonk  of  fire  prevention  or  other  work 
of  the  Fire  Marshal  Department  arnd  shall  pay  the  fee  required 
as  an  associate  member  of  this  Association. 

Article  III. 

At  the  regular  or  special  meetings  of  the  Association,  the 
active  members  only  shall  be  entitled  to  vote,  but  the  department 
of  each  State  or  Province  shall  have  one  vote  only,  which  vote 
shall  be  cast  either  by  the  state  fire  marshal  or  commissioner  or 
other  officer  at  the  head  of  the  department  in  his  State  or  Pro- 
vince or  in  his  absence  by  his  deputy  or  assistant  who  may  be 
present  and  authorized  to  represent  the  department. 

Article  IV. 

The  officers  of  the  Association  ^hall  be  a  president,  a  vice- 
president,  and  a  secretary  and  treasurer ;  also  an  executive  com- 
mittee consisting  of  two  members  aind  the  above  named  officers. 
The  election  of  the  officers  and  executive  committee  shall  be  by 
ballot  and  shall  take  place  immediately  before  adjournment, 
unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Association. 

No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  president  whose 
term  of  office  shall  definitely  expire  before  the  meeting  of  the 
annual  convention  subsequent  to  his  election. 


234 


Article  V. 

The  duties  of  the  several  officers  shall  be  such  as  those  that 
usually  devolve  upon  persons  holding  like  positions.  The  execu- 
tive committee  shall  make  arrangements  for  the  annual  meeting, 
unless  otherwise  ordered  by  the  Association,  and  in  case  of  a 
vacancy  in  any  of  the  offices,  shall  name  a  member  to  fill  it  until 
the  next  annual  meeting. 

Article  VI. 

The  president  shall  appoint  the  members  of  all  general  and 
special  committees  of  the  Association,  and  the  secretary  shall 
immediately  notify  the  members  of  their  appointment. 

Article  VII. 

The  membership  fee  in  this  Association  shall  be  twenty 
($20.00)  dollars  per  year  for  fire  marshals,  commis^oners  or 
other  heads  of  departments,  and  ten  ($10.00)  dollars  per  year  for 
associate  members.  Provided  active  members  having  no  fund 
from  which  to  pay  the  fee  shall  only  be  required  to  pay  ten 
($10.00)  dollars  annually. 

Article  VIII. 

Any  member  on  retiring  f-  >  office  as  fire  marshal,  cor.mis- 
sioner  or  other  official  having  charge  of  the  work  of  fire  preven- 
tion, shall  become  an  honorary  member  of  this  Association,  but 
without  the  right  to  vote. 

Article  IX. 

The  Association  shall  have  the  power  to  adopt  by-laws  re- 
lating to  the  conduct  of  their  business  and  to  change  the  same 
at  pleasure  by  a  majority  vote  of  the  members  present  at  any 
regular  meeting  of  the  .Association. 

Article  X. 

This  constitution  may  be  amended  at  any  regular  meeting 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  fhe  members  present  and  voting,  notice 
of  such  amendment  having  been  given  at  a  previous  session. 

Any  of  the  articles  of  this  constitution  may  be  suspended 
cnly  upon  unanimous  vote  of  all  members  present. 


235 


ROSTER      FIRE      MARSHALS'      ASSOCIATION      OF      NORTH 
AMERICA,  1919—1920. 


Alabama— W.  J.  Williams,  Fire  Marshal— Montgomery. 

Alberta — R.  L.  Nicholson,  Deputy  Fire  Commissioner — Edmonton. 

Arkansas — Bruce  T.  Bullion,  Insurance  Commissioner — Little  Rock. 

British  Columbia— H.  G.  Garrett,  Superintendent  of  Insurance— Victoria. 

Connecticut— Thomas  F.  Egan,  Fire  Marshal— Hartford. 

District  of  Columbia— George  S.  Watson— Fire  Marshal — Washington. 

Georgia — W.  R.  Joyner,  Fire  Inspector — Atlanta. 

Illinois — John  G.  Gamber.  Fire  Marshal — Springfield. 

Indiana — H.  H.  Friedley,  Fire  Marshal — Indianapolis. 

Iowa — J.  A.  Tracy,  Fire  Marshal — Des  Moines. 

Kansas — L.  T.  Hussey,  Fire  Marshal — Topeka. 

Kentucky— W.  T.  Crosthwait,  Fire  Marshal — Frankfort. 

Louisiana— William  M.  Campbell,  Fire  Marshal— New  Orleans. 

Maine — G.  Waidon  Smith,  Insurance  Commissioner — Augusta. 

Manitoba — Charles  Heath,  Fire  Commissioner— Winnipeg. 

Massachusetts — George  C.  Neal,  Fire  Marshal — Boston. 

Michigan — Frank  H.  Ellsworth,  Insurance  Commissioner — Lansing. 

Minnesota — George  H.  Nettleton,  Fire  Marshal— St.  Paul. 

Mississippi — T.  M.  Henry,  Insurance  Commissioner — Jackson. 

Montana — R.  S.  Mentrum,  Fire  Marshal — Helqna. 

Nebraska — Charles  E.  Hartford,  Fire  Marshal— Lincoln. 

North  Carolina — James  R.  Young,  Insurance  Commissioner — Raleigh. 

North  Dakota— H.  L.  Reade,  Fire  Marshal— Bismarck. 

Ohio — W.  J.  Leonard.  Fire  Marshal — Columbus. 

Oklahoma— John  Connolly,  Fire  Marshal— Oklahoma  City. 

Ontario — E.  P.  Heaton,  Fire  Marshal — Toronto. 

Oregon — A.  C.  Barber,  Fire  Marshal — Salem. 

Pennsylvania— Howard  E.   Butz,  Chief,    Bureau    of    Fire    Protection — 

Harrisburg. 
Saskatchewan— Arthur  E.  Fisher,  Fire  Commissioner — Regina. 
South  Carolina — W.  A.  McSwain,  Insurance  Commissioner — Columbia. 
South  Dakota — W.  N.  Van  Camp,  Insurance  Commissioner — Pierre. 
Tennessee — Walter  B.  Bell,  Fire  Prevention  Commissioner — Nashville. 
Texas— .'\.  P.  Wooldridge,  Fire  Marshal,  Austin. 
Vermont — Joseph  G.  Brown,  Insurance  Commissioner — Montpelier. 
Virginia — Joseph   Button,  Insurance  Commissioner — Richmond. 
Washington — H.  O.  Fishback,  Insurance  Commissioner — Olympia. 
West  Virginia — John  S.  Horan,  Fire  Marshal — Charleston. 
Wisconsin — Piatt  Whitman,  Insurance  Commissioner — Madison. 

ASSOCIATE  MEMBERS. 

T.  F.  Baker,  Manager,  Arkansas  Actuarial  Bureau,  Little  Rock,  Arkansas. 

H.  Stanley  Ellis,  Engineer,  Bureau  of  Fire  Prevention,  Long  Beach, 
California. 

Frank  C.  Stover,  Sales  Engineer,  Submarine  Engineers,  74  New  Mont- 
gomery Street,  San  Francisco. 

Harold  L.  Miner,  Fire  Protection  Division,  E.  1.  DuPont  de  Nemours  & 
Co.,  Wilmington,  Delaware. 

236 


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William  S.  Boyd,  Electrical  Inspector.  1029  Insurance   Exchange,  Chi- 
cago. 

C.  J.  Doyle,  Associate  General  Counsel,  National   Board  of  Fire  Under- 

writers.  1503  WiRgins  Avenue,  Springfield,  Illinois. 
Charles   E.   Dox,   Manager,    London   and    Lancashire   Fire   Ins.   Co.,  39 
South  La  Salle  Street,  Chicago. 

Herman  L.  Ekern.  Attorney,  R.  1818,  208  South  La  Salle  Street.  Chicago. 
Edwin  S.  Foltz,  Loss  Supt.,  American  Insurance  Company,  Rockford, 
Illinois. 

Thomas  R.  Johnstone.  Manager.  American-LaFrance  Fire  Engine  Co.. 
Inc.,  815  South  Wabash  Avenue,  Chicago. 

James  F.  Joseph,  Special  Representative,  The  Union.  1029  Insurance  Ex- 
change. Chicago. 

James  S.   Kemper.   Manager,   Lumbermen's  &   Manufacturers'  Insurance 
Agency.  400  Lumber  Exchange  Bldg.,  Chicago. 

John  Lind.  Secretary.  Prepared  Roofing  &  Shingle  Manufacturers'  Asso- 
ciation, Conway  Building,  Chicago. 

James  I.   Naghten,  President,  Hibernia   Fire  Insurance  Company,   1703 
Insurance  Exchange,  Chicago. 

W.  C.  Shinn.  President.  W.  C.  Shinn  Mfg.  Co..  53  West  Jackson  Blvd., 
Chicago. 

A.  R.  Small,  Fire  Protection  Engineer,  Underwriters'  Laborati   .es.  Inc  , 
207  East  Ohio  Street,  Chicago. 

Illinois  Firemen's  Association.  Albert  Herring,  Secretary,  716  North  11th 
Street,  Murphysboro,  Illinois. 

E.   R.   Stotts,   Manager   Lightning   Protection,   Dodd   &   Struthers     118 
Eighth  Street,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Frank  Lewis,  Fire  Prevention  Commissioner  of  the  Commonwealth.  410 
Kimball  Building.  Boston. 

Franklin  H.  Wentworth.  Secretary.  National  Fire  Protection  Association 
87  Milk  Street.  Boston. 

James  I.  Banash.  Consulting  Engineer,  30  East  42d  Street,  New  York 
City. 

Ira  G.  Hoagland,  Secretary,  National  Automatic  Sprinkler  Association, 
80  Maiden  Lane,  New  York  City. 

W.  E.  Mallalieu.  General  Manager.  National  Board  of  Fire  Underwriters 
76  William  Street.  New  York  City. 

Frank  R.   Morgaridge,   Special   Agent.    National    Board   of   Fire   Under- 
writers. 76  William  Street.  New  York  City. 

Granville  P.  Rogers.  General  Sales  &  Advertising  Manager,  Pyrene  Mfg. 
Co..  52  Vanderbilt  Avenue.  .New  York  City. 

Herbert  C.  Williamson,  Fire  Prevention  Engineer.  Eastman  Kodak  Com- 
pany. Rochester,  New  York. 

William  B.  Goodwin,  State  Agent,  Aetna  Fire  Insurance  Co.,  309  Hart- 
man  Bldg.,  Columbus.  Ohio. 

W.  E.  Haines.  Secretary.  Ohio  Farmers  Insurance  Co..  LeRoy   Ohio 

Richard  T.  Huggard.  State  Agent.  Springfield   Fire  &  Marine  Ins.  Co 
Citizens  Trust  &  Savings  Bank  Bldg..  Columbus.  Ohio. 

J.  E.  Lyons.  Secretary.  Conservation  and  Fire  Prevention  Assn.  of  Ohio. 
1000  Hartman  Building.  Columbus.  Ohio. 

Paul  Mason.  Associate  Editor,  Fire  Protection,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

237 


J 


Ralph    E.   Richman.    Editor,    Fire    Protection,   403    Lincoln    Inn   Court, 

Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
George  F.  Lewis,  Deputy  Fire  Marshal,  Toronto,  Ontario. 
M.  J.  Miller,  Secretary,  Sinking    Fund    Commission,    Columbia,    South 

Carolina. 
Craig  Belk,  President,  Texas  Association  of  Insurance  Agents,  Houston, 

Texas. 

STANDING  COMMITTEES  FOR  1919-1920. 


Committee  to  Co-operate  with  National  Board  and  Bareau  of  StMdanto: 

T.  Alfred  Fleming,  Chairman;  76  William  Street,  New  York  City. 

F.  W.  Kubasta,  Madison,  Wisconsin. 

Walter  B.  Bell,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

H.  H.  Friedley,  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

L.  T.  Hussey,  Topeka,  Kan.sas. 

James  R.  Young,  Raleigh,  North  Carolina. 

Homer  Rutledge,  Lansing,  Michigan. 

Committee  on  Anon: 

F.  W.  Kubasta,  Chairman;  Madison,  Wisconsin. 
Homer  Rutledge,  Lansing,  Michigan. 
John  S.  Hora::,  Charleston,  West  Virginia. 
F.  R.  Morgaridge,  New  York  City. 
W.  J.  Leonard,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Committee  on  Legislation: 

C.  J.  Doyle,  Chairman;  Springfield,  Illinois. 
T.  F.  Baker,  Little  Rock,  Ark. 
J.  Bart  Foster,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 
W.  N.  Van  Camp,  Pierre,  South  Dakota. 
L.  T.  h_3sey,  Topeka,  Kansas. 

Committee  on  Sute  Building  Code: 

W.  N.  Van  Camp,  Chairman;  Pierre,  South  Dakota. 

H.  H.  Friedley,  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 

Wm.  J.  Leonard,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

Wm.  S.  Boyd,  Chicago. 

J.  A.  Tracy,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Committee  to  Co-operate  with  Federal  Government: 

W.  E.  Mallalieu,  Chairman;  76  William  Street,  New  York  City. 
Wm.  M.  Campbell,  New  Orleans;  Louisiana. 
J.  A.  Tracy,  Des  Moines,  Iowa. 
W.  A.  Groce,  Olympia,  Washington. 
Howard  E.  Butz,  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 

Committee  on  Publicity  and  Education: 

George  H.  Anderson,  Chairman;  Springfield,  Illinois. 
Frank  A.  Mclvor,  Topeka,  Kansas. 
George  F.  Lewis,  Toronto,  Canada. 
Ralph  E.  Richman,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 
W.  A.  McSwain,  Columbia,  South  Carolina. 

238 


Committee  on  Exhibitt: 

E.  P.  Heaton,  Chairman;  Toronto,  Canada. 
Joseph  Button,  Richmond,  Virginia. 
Charles  E.  Hartford,  Lincoln,  Nebraska. 
G.  Waldon  Smith,  Augusta,  Maine. 
W.  A.  McSwain,  Columbia,  South  Carolina. 

Committee  on  Membenhip: 

Arthur  E.  Fisher,  Chairman;  Regina,  Saskatchewan,  Canada. 

R.  S.  Mentrum,  Helena,  Montana. 

W.  J.  Williams,  Montgomery,  Alabama. 

A.  P.  WooldridKc.  .Austin,  Texas. 

Walter  B.  Bell,  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Committee  on  Standard  Hose  Couplings: 

J.  Bart  Foster,  Chairman;  Oklahoma  City,  Oklahoma. 
M.  S.  Philip.  Chicago  Heights,  Illinois. 
W.  T.  Crosthwait,  Frankfort,  Kentucky. 
H.  H.  Friedley,  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
H.  h   Reade,  Bismarck,  North  Dakota. 

Note:     President  John  G.  Gamher  and  Secretary  George  H.  Nettleton 
are  ex-officio  members  of  all  committees. 


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INDEX 


Address  of  Welcome 

For  Province  of  Ontario.  Attorney  General  I.  B.  Lucas 9 

For  City  of  Toronto,  Controller  \V.  Fi.  Robins 13 

Response,  Vice-President  W.   N".  VanCamp 14 

Advertising,  Paid:  Is  it  Practical  for  the  Fire  Marshal? 210 

Arson  and  Burning,  Committee  to  Prepare  Brief  on 222 

Attendance,    Record    of 17 

Chamber  of  Commerce  of  the  United  States,   Its  Work  in   Fire 

Prevention.     Remarks  by  George  II.  Holt 125 

Circus  Tents,  E.xits  from  in  Emergencies 220 

Committee  on  Arson 

Created  to  Prepare  Brief  on  Arson  and  Burning 224 

Committee  on  .Audit 

Appointment    of 31 

Report    of 228 

Committee  on  Legislation 

Created  as  a  Standing  Committee 190 

Committee  on   Membership 

Report    of 40 

CoiTiniittee  on  Publicity 

Changed  to  Committee  on  Piililicity  and  Education 190 

Committee  on  Resolutions 

Appointment    of 114 

Report   of 225 

Committee  on  State  Building  Code 

Report    of 41 

Report  to  be  Basis  for  Further  Work 228 

Committee  to  Co-operate  with  Federal  Government 

Report    of 39 

Committee  to  Co-operate  with  .Vational  Board 

Report   of 32 

Committees,  Standing  for   1919-1920 238 

Conservation  Association  Work,  Educational  Results  of 

Address  by  James  F.  Joseph 106 

Discussion  by  Ralph  E.  Richman 120 

Discussion  by  John  G.  Gamber 121 

Discussion  by  L.  T.  Hussey 125 

Constitution   234 

Election  of  Officers 230 

Electrolysis,  Methods  of  Controlling 213 

240 


Fire  and  Accident  Prevention   Day;   i^hould  There   lie   Separate 

Observance?    200 

Fire  and  Accident  Prevention  Day,  The  Best  Methods  and  Re- 
sults for 

Address  by  Frank  Lewis 64 

Discussion  by  George  F.  Lewis «  71 

Discussion  by  Arthur  E.  Fisher  72 

Fire  College 

Discussion  of 131,  132,  135 

See  also  Special  Fire  Department  Deputies 204 

Fire  Department  Deputies,  How  to  Secure  and  Develop 204 

Fire  Marshals'  Services  in  All  States,  Survey  of.    What  are  Our 
Faults? 

Address   by   L.   'i .    Hussey 136 

Discussion  by  J.  Bart  Foster 142 

Fire  Prevention  as  a  Life  Saver 

Address  by  James  R.  Young 143 

Discussion  by  John  S.  Horan 149 

Discussion  by  Joseph  G.  Brown ISO 

Fire  Prevention,  Co-operating  Agencies  in 45 

Fire  Prevention,  New  Fields  for  Development  of 

Address  by  John  G.  Gamber 93 

Discussion  by  Walter  B.  Bell  102 

Fire  Prevention,  The  Ultimate  Solution  of  is  the  Child 

Address  by  W.  N.  Van  Camp 83 

Discussion  by  George  H.  Nettleton Vl 

Discussion  by  F.  W.  Kubasta 92 

Fire  Waste,  The  Active  Agency  in  Eliminating 

Address  by  W.  A.  McSwain 45 

Discussion  by  H.  H.  Friedley SO 

Discussion  by  George  H.  Nettleton S2 

Flour  Mill  and  Grain  Elevator,  Proper  Inspection  of  a 

Address  by  James  J    Fitzgerald 169 

Gas,  Are  Present  Methods  of  Shutting  Off  in  Emergencies  Adequate?..197 

Gas  Shut-Offs;  Should  Provision  for  Automatic  Operation  be  Made?..198 

Good  Citizenship 

Address  by  John  S.  Horan S4 

Discussion  by  Edward  A.  Haggerty S8 

Discussion  by  F.  W.  Kubasta 60 

Discussion  by  J.  S.  Darst 63 

Hotels  and  Restaurants,  Requirements  for  in  Ohio 229 

Individual  Liability  Against  Fire 

Address  by  J.  Grove  Smith 181 

Industrial  Plants,  The  Hazards  of  Large 

Address  by  W.  J.  Pollard 185 

Discussion  by  E.  D.  Beach 1^0 

Insurance,  The  Science  of  Service 

Address  by  W.  B.  Flickinger 151 

241 


228 
229 

8 


It   Assist   the   State    Fire    Marshals 


Invitations  for  1920  Convention 

Cities  Extending; 

Referred  to  Executive  CommitteeZ  •' ■' "  I '^' 

Invocation,  Rev.  Dr.  F.  E.  Powell  

Letters  Received  

George  S.  Watson 

Fire   .Marshal  of  Sew  York ^! 

James  R.  YounR...  •" 

"         127 

National   Board.   How   Can    "  

in  Their  Work. 

Address  by  W.  E.   Mallalieu 

Discussion  by  John  C.  Camber ..!..... ,fo 

Nitro-Cellulose    Moving    Picture    Films    and    Pyroxylin 
pounds.   The    Fire    Hazard   of.     What   Should 
Attitude  Toward  Them? 

Address  by  George  W.  Booth 

Officers 

For   1919-1920  

Election  of  ..  - 

230 

Pep  in  Perpetual  Progress  

Address  by  Walter  B.  Bell 

President's  Address,  T.  Alfred  Fleming ' ' ' 

Program    of   Convention 

Regrets  Over  Inability  to  Attend 

John    Connolly 

See  Also  Letters  and  Telegrams.l..Z."Z."..l............. '3'!' 


Com- 
Be    Our 


.168 


171 


.191 
.  21 
.     3 


.  28 
127 


Resolutions 

Sympathy  Over  Illness  of  Guests ,,,; 

Report  of  Committee  on "',. 

Response  to  Address  of  Welcome 7^ 

Roster  of  Active  and  Associate 
Round  Table  Discussion 


Members 236 


Are  Present  Methods  of  Shutting  Off  Gas  in   Emergencies 
Adequate?    

^^°"u'^  fj°y'','°"  ''"■  ^"'o'"«i<^  Operation  of  Gas  Shu't-m 
be    Made? 


197 


198 
200 


Should  Fire  and  Accident  PreventionDay  be  "separated  ? 

How  Can  bpecal  Fire  Department  Deputies  be  Secured  and 

Developed?  

Is  Paid  Advertising  Practical  for'TheFire  Marshal'?'^".;".".  210 

Methods  of  Controlling  Electrolysis.. .  Vu 

Advisability  o^ Written  Applications  for  Fire  Insurance 214 

Exits  From  Circus  Tents  in  Emergencies 

Rural  Hazards-How  Shall  They  be  Eliminated' 

Address  by  H.  L.  Reade 

Discussion  by  H.  H.  Friedley 

Discussion  by  J.  A.  Tracy 

Secretary-Treasurer,  Report  of  John  G.  Gamber 


204 


220 


103 
116 
117 
29 


242 


State  Fire  Marshal  and  Local   Fire   Departments,  Co-operation 

Between  ... 

Remarks  by  Chief  M.  S.  Philip  '" 

Suspicious  Fires.  The  Proper  and   Most  Effective  Procedure  in 
Investisation  of 

Address  by  Chief  John  Kenlon .Vi  ",'tV  n" 

Discussion  by  Ralph  E.  Richman 'JL    •'^'  ^Jt 

Remarks  by  Chief  Kenlon '•'^'    " 

Discussion  by  George  H.  Xcttleton "■f 

Discussion  by  Chief  M.  S.  Philip '" 

Telegrams  Received  -. 

\V.   A.   McSwain 

Dominion  Fire  Chiefs'  Association '^' 

Telegrams  Sent  J27 

James  R.  Young ^ 

Dominion  Fire  Chiefs'  Association 

29 
Treasurer,  Report  of 

Underwriters'  Laboratories-Its  Work  in  Fire  Prevention  ^^ 

Address  by  A.  R.  Small ^^ 

Discussion  by  J.  A.  Tracy ^^ 

Question  by  W.  H.  Shapley ^^ 

Answer  by  A.  R.  Small 

Written  Applications  for  Fire  Insurance,  Advisability  of 214 


243 


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